The Japanese automaker says that its sales - which include subsidiaries Hino Motors and Diahatsu - could top 9.91 million new cars in 2013, a gain over the 9.7 million it anticipates for 2012. Either way, Toyota should take the global sales crown two years in a row since it's on track to best General Motors and Volkswagen in 2012.
Globally, Toyota is predicting sales of 7.87 million new cars, an 8 percent increase. That should counter the 15 percent dip to 2.04 million expected in Japan.
One market that remains something of a mystery for Toyota is China, where an anti-Japanese sentiment spurred by a territorial dispute between the two countries has kept buyers out of showrooms. Though Toyota - and other Japanese automakers - have seen consumer interest increase over the last couple of months after it plummeted earlier  this year, sales aren't likely to recover for a while. As a result, Toyota hasn't confirmed a sales target for the world's largest new car market.
