Toyota Aims to Boost Global Sales 2% This Year

Toyota Motor Corp. expects to sell 9.91 million vehicles worldwide in 2013 compared with an estimated record 9.70 million units last year. The totals include Toyota's Daihatsu and Hino units,

The company's 2012 sales probably surpassed those of General Motors and Volkswagen Group, thus returning Toyota to the top spot in global auto sales.

The Japanese carmaker hiked sales 22% last year from unusually weak levels in 2011, when natural disasters in Asia curbed its output and allowed GM to grab the sales crown.

Toyota could benefit next year from a weaker yen and stronger sales in Brazil, India, southeast Asia and the U.S., according to analysts. But they say anti-Japan sentiment in China could continue to hurt the company's volume in the world's largest car market.

Japan, where demand has tumbled since government incentives ended in September, is expected to be another weak spot. Toyota forecasts its domestic sales will drop 15% to 2.04 million vehicles in 2013.

The company predicts it will produce 9.94 million vehicles this year, up 20,000 units from 2012.