Toyota aims to sell 9.85m vehicles

NAGOYA, Japan - Toyota plans to sell 9.85 million vehicles worldwide in 2008, the company said yesterday, setting an ambitious target despite worries about a slowing US market, as it tries to become the top automaker.

Toyota also said it plans to produce 9.95 million vehicles worldwide next year, up 5 percent from this year.

Its recent growth has put Toyota Motor Corp. on track to beat General Motors to become the world's largest automaker by sales.

GM has said it estimates this year's sales to total 9.3 million vehicles, against Toyota's estimate of 9.36 million sales.

Toyota's growth been based in large part on the popularity of models such as the Camry sedan, Corolla subcompact, and the Prius gas-electric hybrid.

General Motors has been fiercely fighting back, boosting its overseas business and could still keep the top industry spot, which it has held for 76 years.