Toyota Aims to Boost Global Car Sales Next Year

TOKYO December 17, 2002; Dow Jones reported that Toyota Motor Corp. aims to boost its global car sales 5% and domestic sales 2% next year, the world's third-largest car maker said Tuesday.

The targets highlight the company's ongoing shift of focus to Europe and North America, as well as such emerging markets as China, and away from the demand- sluggish Japanese market.

Toyota is pegging global sales at 5.79 million units, up from 5.52 million expected in 2002. Domestic sales are forecast at 1.72 million units, up from 1.69 million expected this year.

Toyota earlier said it hopes to see a 15% worldwide market share "early on in the 2010s" as auto demand expands in emerging markets. In 2001, Toyota's global market share was estimated at 10% of 57 million units world-wide.

Toyota said Tuesday world-wide production is expected to rise 4% next year to 5.87 million units, while domestic output is seen slipping 3% to 3.39 million units.