Toyota forecasting 20% sales jump

JAPANESE car firm Toyota Motor is forecasting a 20% jump in 2012 sales to a record 8.48 million vehicles, as it recovers from output losses caused by natural disasters in Japan and Thailand this year.

Toyota, the world’s top carmaker since 2008, is set to lose its crown to US rival General Motors after supply-chain disruptions from the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan and flooding in Thailand hit production around the world.

With estimated sales this year of 7.90 million vehicles for the group, which includes units Daihatsu Motor and Hino Motors, Toyota will likely rank third behind General Motors and German group Volkswagen.