Toyota Surpasses GM in Global Sales in First Quarter

Toyota Motor Corp. sold more cars and trucks than General Motors Corp. for the first time in the January-March quarter, on demand for Corolla and Camry sedans.

Toyota’s global sales rose 9.2 percent to a record 2.35 million vehicles, the company said today. Sales at GM, the world’s largest carmaker for 76 years, gained 3 percent to 2.26 million vehicles, also a record, GM said on its Web site.

The addition of its sixth North American factory in San Antonio last year helped spur Toyota’s sales in the U.S., GM’s home market. Demand for Toyota’s fuel-efficient vehicles, including the Prius gasoline-electric hybrid, has surged as sales of GM’s light trucks have slumped on higher fuel prices.

Bloomberg