TOKYO (AP) - Toyota is targeting global production of 10.4 million vehicles next year, a major business daily reported Tuesday.
The Japanese automaker, which is on pace to beat General Motors Corp. as the world's biggest automaker, declined to comment on the report.
The Nikkei article said Toyota Motor Corp. has told its suppliers it is aiming in 2008 to produce 10.4 million vehicles, or about a million more than its global production last year.
Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco and Daisuke Kondo, spokesman for Aisin Seiki Co., a major supplier, declined comment.
Toyota's sales are booming with the popularity of its fuel-efficient vehicles, such as the Prius hybrid, and on surging demand in North America and China.
Toyota beat GM in global vehicle sales for the first half of this year, selling 4.72 million vehicle to GM's 4.67 million.
Toyota and its group companies produced 4.71 million vehicles worldwide in the first half, inching up to GM's 4.75 million vehicles. GM has held the title of world's biggest automaker for 76 years.
The Nikkei report said Toyota also told parts-makers last week it hoped to produce 10.9 million vehicles in 2009.
The report said the numbers were inflated compared to numbers released by the company, because they include contract production for manufacturers selling vehicles under brands other than Toyota.
Toyota will boost production of its RAV-4 sport utility vehicle in Canada, and make the Camry model at the Indiana Subaru plant, which recently added the Camry assembly line, the Nikkei said. Other overseas plants will also increase production to keep up with demand, it said.
