Toyota to be world's top carmaker in 2007: report
12/18 12:18:58 PM

TOKYO (AFP) - Toyota Motor Corp is expected to replace struggling US auto giant General Motors Corp. as the world's largest automaker next year amid plans to boost global output, a report said Monday.

By increasing global output by 400,000 vehicles over 2006 to about 9.45 million, the Japanese automaker is in line to dislodge GM as the world's No.1 carmaker, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, without citing sources.

The figures also included vehicles produced by two subsidiaries, small-car specialist Daihatsu Motor Co. and truckmaker Hino Motors Ltd. the Japanese business daily said.

Toyota has continued to enjoy booming demand for its vehicles in North America, driven by sales of its popular hybrid-electric Prius and other fuel-efficient models.

Toyota said last month it was looking at a plan to boost production of auto parts including engines in a response to brisk global sales.

It also opened up the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas plant in the heart of the pickup truck market in the United States in November, marking the start of production for the all-new full-size 2007 Tundra pickup truck.

Toyota is already the world's most profitable automaker, having increased in the July-September quarter to 3.44 billion dollars on the back of strong sales in both North American and Europe.

It forecasts a record 1.55 trillion yen (13.14 billion dollars) net profit for the full-year to March, up 13 percent from the previous year. - PHILSTAR