(autoinsidernews) - 2007 could be the year Toyota passes General Motors as the world's largest automaker, according to Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun, which cites unnamed sources. GM has been the world's largest automaker for more than 75 years, but Toyota has been rapidly increasing sales for years. Toyota's growth in recent years has been accelerated by trends towards smaller, more fuel efficient cars.
Toyota expects to sell 8.85 million vehicles worldwide in 2006, and is aiming to sell 9.8 million vehicles globally in 2008. General Motors sold 9.2 million vehicles globally last year. Toyota won't announce vehicle sales targets for 2007 until Dec. 22, but is expected to produce around 9.45 million vehicles, reports Trend.
So does GM really care if it loses the number one spot? The somewhat official word is, no. General Motors says it is focused on its turnaround plan and won't make decisions solely to keep the title of the world's largest automaker.