Toyota eyes 20% global sales growth in 2012

Japan's biggest carmaker Toyota expects a 20 percent growth in global sales in 2012 after a dismal 2011 on the domestic front when the March 11 earthquake and tsunami hit demand. The automaker expects to sell 8.48 million units worldwide in 2012, and plans to boost global production by almost a quarter to a record 8.65 million vehicles, focusing more on emerging markets, the company said. A statement said the firm would look to further increase its total output to 8.98 million in 2013. A turbulent 2011, in which the global economic slowdown also dragged, is expected to show domestic sales plunged 19 percent across the group -- including subsidiaries Daihatsu and Hino -- with a 24 percent fall in sales of the Toyota brand alone. Worldwide group sales are expected to show a six percent fall for the year, the company said. Toyota spokeswoman Amiko Tomita said the 2012 global production target is an ambitious one, which would beat its current record of 8.53 million units set in 2007 before the onset of the financial crisis. "But what we are envisioning behind these figures is different from the time of 2007," Tomita said. "We will have more focus on emerging markets." "We have a global vision to build more balanced business operations in different regions, compared with 2007 when the company focused more on Japan, North America and Europe." Toyota said it wanted to further boost its sales in 2013, with a target of 8.95 million units in the year. Toyota's 2011 production was hampered by the March earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan, which disrupted supply chains, as well as massive flooding in Thailand. A mood of austerity among Japanese consumers affected appetite for all manner of consumer goods.