Toyota eyes world car sales crown

Toyota sold 4.97 million vehicles globally in the first six months of this year, a strong result that could see the Japanese firm regain its crown as the world’s top car maker from General Motors.

The number underlines Toyota’s powerful rebound from a period of dismal sales, and the resilience of its brand as it gains traction in new markets such as China and south-east Asia while clawing back lost market share in the US