TOKYO (Thomson Financial) - Japan's largest automaker Toyota Motor Corp plans to boost its global production in 2008 to about 9.9 million vehicles, about 500,000 units more than the projected volume for 2007, due to continued robust sales in China, the Middle East and other emerging economies, the Nikkei reported on Sunday without citing sources.
The company is expected to replace General Motors Corp as the world's largest automaker this year, with the gap likely to widen in 2008, the business daily said.
Toyota's global output will climb by 4 percent to 9.42 million cars in 2007 from a year earlier, it said.
Earlier this month, General Motors Corp announced its production will increase by 1 percent to 9.26 million units.
In 2008, Toyota's overseas output, excluding group companies, is expected to exceed its domestic figure, the Nikkei said.
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