Japan-based Toyota Motor has targeted sales of 8.48 million units globally in 2012, an increase of 20 per cent from the 2011 sales forecast of 7.05 million units, said the automaker’s representative office in Bahrain.

The production target for the 2012 commercial year is 8.65 million units, a 24 per cent increase from the 2011 forecast of 6.97 million units.

According to Toyota, the highest number of sales recorded was in 2007 when 8.43 million units were sold globally, however due to a quick recovery and response to the earthquake in Japan and floods in Thailand, introduction of variety of new models, and major expansions expected in emerging markets such as China and other Asian countries, sales in 2012 are expected to set a new record.

Furthermore, the company expects a steady growth in its sales in 2013 as well, with a sales forecast of 8.95 million vehicles and global production of 8.98 million vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 6 per cent and 4 per cent from 2012, respectively. – TradeArabia News Service