'08 Toyota Sales

Toyota pegs worldwide '08 sales at 9.85 million

Toyota plans to sell 9.85 million vehicles worldwide in 2008, the company said Tuesday, setting an ambitious target despite worries about a slowing U.S. auto market as it tries to become the world's top automaker, according to wire reports from Japan. Toyota also said it plans to produce 9.95 million vehicles worldwide next year, up 5 percent from this year -- the same as the projected annual percentage jump for Toyota's global sales. Its recent growth has put Toyota Motor Corp. on track to top General Motors Corp. as the world's largest automaker by sales. GM has said it estimates this year's sales to total 9.3 million vehicles; Toyota estimates 9.36 million sales.