Toyota becomes the world's largest automaker

This week Toyota reclaimed its former spot as the world's largest automaker with a 23% gain in global sales for 2012. Toyota sold 9.75 million vehicles during 2012 allowing it to take the top spot from GM. GM sold 9.29 million vehicles in 2012.

Another automaker that was in the hunt for the title of world's largest automaker was the Volkswagen, selling 9.07 million vehicles globally. Toyota sales numbers also include its sub brands including Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Limited. Toyota was the world's largest automaker for the first time in 2008.

However, Toyota fell behind GM a few years later after its supply chain was disrupted as a result of the earthquake in Japan and flooding in Thailand. Toyota credits much of its success to high demand for its Prius hybrid vehicle line, Toyota Camry, and SUVs. For 2013, Toyota is forecasting 9.91 million vehicles sold.

That prediction shows an expectation of modest growth in 2013. Toyota didn't offer insight on its sales for specific geographic areas when it announced it was the world's largest automaker. The company did say that it didn't expect to meet its 2012 goal of selling 1 million cars in China. Toyota previously noted that it had sold 2.1 million vehicles in the United States during 2012.

[via Wall Street Journal]