Toyota Retains Global Sales Crown for 2013

Toyota Motor Corp. sold 9.98 million vehicles last year, up 2% from 2012, to mark its second consecutive year as the world's top seller of cars and trucks.

The company's domestic sales in Japan fell 5% to 2.3 million units last year, but overseas deliveries increased 5% to 7.7 million.

Toyota's total for 2013, which includes results from its Daihatsu minicar and Hino commercial truck affiliates, compares with 9.71 million vehicles for General Motors and 9.70 million for Volkswagen.

Toyota predicts its sales will advance 4% to 10.3 million vehicles this year. The company expects demand in Japan will decline another 5% to 2.2 million units, and overseas sales will climb 6% to 8.1 million.

The company plans to cut output in Japan 5% to 4 million units in 2014, while boosting production elsewhere 9% to 6.4 million. Total company production will rise 3% to 10.4 million, according to Toyota.