Foto: TPCA

Its Czech subsidiary, Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile Czech (TPCA) raised output by 8,200 to 332,489 cars in 2009.

Toyota predicts sales of the entire group to reach 8.27 million vehicles in 2010, a drop from 2007’s record 9.37 million. “All in all, it’s probably an achievable target,” said Christopher Richter, auto analyst at investment group CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, adding that he foresees worldwide vehicle sales expanding 3 to 4 percent this year. Under this scenario, Toyota would outperform the market slightly. Excluding specialized subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. and Hino Motors Ltd., Toyota projects sales of 7.4 million vehicles worldwide, up 6 percent, it said in a statement last week.

Toyota is counting on brisk growth in Japan, where it expects sales of Toyota and Lexus brand cars to jump 9 percent to 1.5 million vehicles after a six-month extension of government subsidies to the end of September for replacing older cars. It also projects its parent-only overseas sales to grow 5 percent to 5.9 million vehicles, driven by a sharp increase in the U.S., its single biggest market, and in China, which surpassed the U.S. as the world’s largest auto market last year.

Toyota had been growing rapidly before the financial crisis, adding production capacity and expanding its array of vehicles, which left it badly exposed when market conditions changed and demand dried up. Hammered by plunging sales, falling prices and overcapacity, Toyota said in November it expected to post an operating loss of JPY 350 billion (Kč 72.2 billion/€2.7 billion) for the year to March. More recently, the company has been caught up in two extensive vehicle recalls in the U.S. that threaten to damage its safety and reliability reputation. Last year, Toyota sold 7.813 million vehicles as a group, down 13 percent, while Volkswagen sold a record 6.28 million vehicles in 2009. GM, bailed out by the U.S. government last year, has not disclosed its 2009 sales tally.