Toyota Takes Lead in Global Auto Sales in Jan.-March 2008

Tokyo, Apr 24, 2008; The Toyota Motor Corp. group was the top vehicle seller on the global market in January-March, beating U.S. auto giant General Motors Corp.

GM said Wednesday its global automobile sales in the first quarter of 2008 came to 2,253,946 units, down 0.6 pct from a year before.

Meanwhile, sales by Toyota and two subsidiaries--Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd.--amounted to 2,412,602 units, up 2.7 pct, according to an announcement by the top Japanese automaker the same day.

GM posted a 78 pct year-on-year sales increase in Russia and performed strongly as well in Latin America and China. But it suffered a 10 pct drop in sales in North America.

The Toyota group registered lower sales in Japan, the United States and Europe, while enjoying brisk sales in emerging markets in Asia and the Middle East.

In 2007, GM managed to maintain the No. 1 position on the global auto market with sales of 9,369,524 units, against 9,366,418 units at the Toyota group. Toyota beat GM in the first half of the year. But GM rallied in the second half to edge Toyota on a full-year basis.