Toyota Motors has made up for its production losses, caused by the natural disasters, to become the world’s largest carmaker in the first quarter of 2012. It has regained this prestigious crown from General Motors, which was the largest carmaker in 2011.
Toyota sold a total of 2.49 million vehicles globally in the first three months, edging GM's 2.28 million and Volkswagen's 2.16 million. Sales of Toyota’s Lexus, Scion, Hino and Daihatsu models rose by 18 percent to 2.49 million in the first quarter.
Toyota this week forecasted that its profit will more than double to a five-year high in the fiscal year 2012 as the company rebounds from 2011’s calamities, and will introduce new models to regain market share.