Toyota tops GM to become world's biggest carmaker

Toyota Motor Corp. trumped General Motors (GM) in total car sales during the first nine months of 2008 to become the world's top car producer for the first time.

GM's sales between January and September in 2008 were down 5.8 percent to 6,655,751 vehicles, according to figures released by the company on Wednesday. Toyota's sales for the same period, including those of subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors, were 7,051,029, almost unchanged from last year.

And while GM just beat out Toyota in total sales over 2007 as a whole, good first half figures and a relatively soft blow from the economic crisis compared to its American rival mean that Toyota is set to take the top spot this year.

By region, sales of GM vehicles in North America were down 16.5 percent to about 2.9 million units compared to last year, and down 2 percent to 1.62 million in Europe.

In comparison, Toyota alone suffered a 0.5 percent decrease to 6.3 million; but while total sales for the group in 2008 were predicted to hit 9.5 million, with Western and Chinese markets flagging, there is a strong possibility sales could drop below last year's total of 9.37 million vehicles.