Changing of the Guard: Toyota closes in on GM sales

Toyota Motor Corp., buoyed by demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, is moving closer to ending General Motors Corp.'s 80-year reign as the world's biggest automaker.

Toyota's sales grew 7.1 percent to 4.36 million in the year's first half, according to Toyota spokeswoman Shiori Hashimoto. GM's fell 2.3 percent, to 4.6 million, spokesman John McDonald said. GM's advantage, now 240,000 units, has shrunk to less than half its size of 12 months ago.

Toyota is advancing in large part on the strength of sales in GM's home market. Toyota City, Japan-based Toyota passed GM's cross-town rival Ford Motor Co. globally in 2003, and so far this year had a 9.8 percent U.S. sales gain. U.S. sales for Detroit- based GM dropped 12.3 percent through June.


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