TOKYO: Toyota played down its demotion from top spot in the world carmakers’ league after General Motors (GM) said it sold 9.03 million vehicles in 2011. Toyota had been the world’s biggest carmaker since 2008, the year GM almost collapsed and the global financial crisis forced it to turn to the US government for a bailout.
The Japanese company sold 8.42 million vehicles in 2010. But its 2011 seven-million tally leaves GM in the lead with Volkswagen in second place on 8.16 million vehicles. Toyota’s latest yearly sales figure appeared without comment at the bottom of a company press release announcing that it was increasing its 2012 sales target within Japan by 100,000 vehicles.
“Sales are important, to be first is important, but that’s not the most important thing for us,” said a Toyota spokesman, Amiko Tomita. “Our priority number one is to make cars people love, and not to be the first in the world. As a result, if we are first, it’s a good thing, but our priority number one is to make good cars.”
Toyota said it is hoping for a bumper 2012 both at home and abroad, setting ambitious sales and production targets, including a rise of more than a fifth in Toyota and Lexus brand sales.
The Japanese company sold 8.42 million vehicles in 2010. But its 2011 seven-million tally leaves GM in the lead with Volkswagen in second place on 8.16 million vehicles. Toyota’s latest yearly sales figure appeared without comment at the bottom of a company press release announcing that it was increasing its 2012 sales target within Japan by 100,000 vehicles.
“Sales are important, to be first is important, but that’s not the most important thing for us,” said a Toyota spokesman, Amiko Tomita. “Our priority number one is to make cars people love, and not to be the first in the world. As a result, if we are first, it’s a good thing, but our priority number one is to make good cars.”
Toyota said it is hoping for a bumper 2012 both at home and abroad, setting ambitious sales and production targets, including a rise of more than a fifth in Toyota and Lexus brand sales.
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