Toyota China sales down 1st time in 18 months

Toyota Motor Corp's (7203.T) sales in China fell 6.0 percent in October to 61,600 vehicles, marking the first year-on-year decline in 18 months, the Nikkei business daily reported on Tuesday, citing the company's local arm.

The paper said Toyota cars were losing popularity while deteriorating Sino-Japanese relations also may have hit its sales.

Robust demand in China, the world's biggest car market, is one of the few bright spots for global automakers, and prolonged weak sales there could further hinder Toyota's profit recovery as the Japanese market tanks.