Toyota Sets Record With 10 Million Sales in a Year

Just the Facts:

• Toyota Motor Corp. set an all-time industry record with more than 10 million vehicles sold worldwide during the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2014.
• Toyota retained its position as the world's largest automaker for the second year in a row, edging out its closest rivals, Volkswagen and General Motors.
• Toyota's global sales for fiscal 2013, including the Daihatsu and Hino brands, totaled 10,133,000 units.

TOKYO, Japan — Toyota Motor Corp. has announced that it sold more than 10 million vehicles worldwide during the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2014, setting an all-time record for the auto industry.

Toyota's global sales for fiscal 2013, including the Daihatsu and Hino brands, totaled 10,133,000 units. Industry analysts say that no other automaker has ever topped the 10 million mark during any 12-month period.

Toyota's closest rivals, Volkswagen AG and General Motors Co., report financial data on a calendar-year basis. During calendar 2013, Toyota sold 9.98 million units, compared to Volkswagen's 9.73 million and GM's 9.71 million, allowing Toyota to retain its title as the world's largest automaker for the second year in a row.

After leading the sales race from 2008 through 2010, Toyota dropped behind GM in 2011, a result of disrupted production due to the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March of that year. Prior to 2008, GM had held the sales crown for 77 consecutive years.

Toyota's fiscal-year sales represent a 4.5 percent increase over 2012, while Volkswagen's sales grew by 4.9 percent and GM's by 4 percent. While all three automakers have expressed optimism about 2014 numbers, many industry analysts believe Volkswagen will be next to top the 10 million mark, perhaps as soon as this year.

Edmunds says: Car shoppers know that Toyota can't rest on its laurels because it's still a dogfight among the top players.