Toyota Remains World’s Top-Selling Carmaker

Toyota Motor Corp. and its Daihatsu minicar and Hino commercial truck affiliates sold 9.98 million vehicles last year, up 2% from 2012. That compares with 9.71 million for General Motors and 9.70 million for Volkswagen.

Toyota's sales in Japan fell 5% to 2.3 million units last year, but deliveries elsewhere climbed 5% to 7.7 million.

The company predicts its group sales will advance 4% to 10.3 million vehicles this year, as another 5% decline to 2.2 million units in Japan is offset by 6% growth to 8.1 million overseas.

Toyota plans to trim production in Japan 5% to 4 million units in 2014. Output in other countries will grow 9% to 6.4 million, advancing total company production 3% to 10.4 million cars and trucks.