Toyota is likely to end General Motors’ 81-year run as top global car maker next year after announcing it expects group production worldwide to rise 4% to 9.42m vehicles in 2007, after a 10% rise to 9.04m this year.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more


In contrast, industry analysts see GM making around 9.2m vehicles this year with no expansion plans for 2007. It is in fact in the process of axing 30,000 jobs and several factories by 2008 while Toyota has plans for six more factories world-wide by the end of the decade. It has just opened a new large pickup truck plant in Texas and a Camry plant is under construction in Russia.


The Japanese automaker expects global sales to rise 6% to 9.34m in 2007 (8.8m, +8% in 2006) with a 1% rise to 2.39m in Japan and overseas sales up 6% to 6.95m. This year’s domestic sales are seen up 1% to 2.38m while overseas sales will be up 12% to 6.42m.


Exports from Japan should rise 3% to 2.79m compared with a 24% rise to 2.72m this year.


The New York Times reported this week that Ford is likely to lose its second-place sales slot to Toyota early in 2007.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

“Toyota has all the factors necessary to become the world’s No. 1 automaker,” Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management analyst Atsushi Osa in Tokyo told Bloomberg News. “It has expansion plans, the right products and their vehicles are popular.”


Separating the key Toyota brand from small car specialist Daihatsu and truck maker Hino, the automaker sees worldwide production up 4% to 8.47m in 2007 (2006: 8.12m, +12%) with exports from Japan up 3% to 2.61m (2.53m, +25%).


Worldwide sales are projected up 6% to 8.4m (7.91bn, +9%) with domestic sales rising 1% to 1.72m (1.71m, 0%) and overseas sales up 8% to 6.68m (6.2m, 12%).