Toyota flags sales fall in 2015 as emerging markets, Japan stall

[TOKYO] Toyota Motor Corp said on Wednesday it expects its vehicle sales to fall slightly in 2015 in a move that could see rival Volkswagen AG steal the industry crown this year.

Toyota said it expects 2015 group-wide global sales to fall about 1 per cent to 10.15 million vehicles as demand stalls in emerging markets such as China and Indonesia, as well as in Japan after the country's sales take hike last year. The figure includes sales at subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co and Hino Motors Ltd.

Toyota expects its parent-only sales to rise 0.4 per cent to 9.18 million vehicles, with a 2 per cent rise to 7.73 million vehicles overseas and a 7 per cent fall to 1.45 million in Japan.

In 2014, its group-wide sales grew 3 per cent to 10.231 million vehicles.

REUTERS