Japanese Automakers Target 4% Gain in Global Sales

Japan's eight makers of cars and trucks aim to boost their sales to a combined 25.1 million vehicles worldwide this year from a record 24.1 million units in 2012, The Nikkei reports.

Forecasters predict the overall global auto market will grow 3% year over year to more than 83 million vehicles in 2013.

The newspaper says Daihatsu, Fuji Heavy, Honda and Toyota s expect increases of nearly 6% to a combined 15.1million vehicles. The Nikkei does not disclose how it estimated sales forecasts for Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Suzuki, which have not made public predictions.

Japan's carmakers project a collective 8% jump in their U.S. sales to 5.8 million units, according to the newspaper. That's a bigger gain that most industry researchers are forecasting for the American car market. Most expect demand to grow 4%-7% to as much as 15.4 million vehicles this year.