Toyota Hikes 2013 Outlook for U.S. Auto Market

Automakers will sell about 15.3 million cars and light trucks in the U.S. this year compared with 14.5 million units in 2012, Toyota Motor Corp. predicts. The company previously forecast a 2% gain to 14.7 million vehicles in 2013.

Bob Carter, senior vice president for Toyota's U.S. sales operations, tells an auto conference in New York City that the improved outlook is based on strengthening consumer confidence caused by a greater sense of job security.

The company also boosted its projection for U.S. sales by its Toyota, Scion and Lexus brands this year by 50,000 units to more than 2.2 million vehicles. That 6% year-over-year increase would match the Toyota's expected advance in the American market.

Carter predicts much of the company's growth this year will come from hybrid vehicles and small trucks, including a 16% jump to 200,000 units for the Toyota RAV4 compact crossover vehicle.

Carter also forecasts that U.S. sales of the Toyota Camry midsize car will surpass 400,000 units in 2013, thus marking the vehicle's 12th straight year as the country's top-selling car. The company sold 404,800 Camry sedans in America last year.