Toyota Could be First Automaker to Sell Over 2 Million Cars & Trucks in 2004

Auto Industry Analysts have recently announced that Toyota Motor Corp. is positioned to become the first foreign automaker to sell more than 2 million cars and trucks in a single year in the United States. Toyota has had a successful 2004 in motivating American car buyers to buy new Toyota models instead of Ford and General Motors cars and trucks.

Analysts reported that Toyota sold an average of 170,000 Toyota, Lexus and Scion brand cars and trucks every month through November 2004 and only needs 127,885 sales in December to top 2 million. The first foreign car maker to do so and would join Ford, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler at the 2-million mark.

Asian carmakers, led by Toyota, are once again expected to record another substantial gain in U.S. market share in December, according to auto industry analysts. Full-year sales are also likely to top 2003's 16.7 million, analysts added. Automakers will report American sales on Jan. 4 2005. "It's impossible to make the argument that Toyota is in any way poised to decline," an industry consultant said. "With any other automaker, you could see a possibility of a decline, but Toyota is certainly in line to be No. 1 in the world."

New models such as a four-door version of the Toyota Tundra pickup truck, a newly redesigned Toyota Sienna minivan and Toyota Scion cars, which are targeted at younger buyers, are a significant part of the plan of Toyota President Fujio Cho to boost overall global sales to 9 million units within eight years at the world's second-largest automaker. General Motors, the current No. 1 automaker, is forecasted to sell 8.5 million cars and trucks in 2004.