The Toyota Motor Corp. group is expected to boost its automobile production to more than 9.2 million units in 2006, making it almost certain the group will top General Motors Corp. to become the world's No. 1 automaker in terms of output, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported Wednesday.
Toyota has decided to raise its 2006 global production volume 12 percent from its 2005 projection to 8.3 million units, an increase of roughly 900,000 units, which is more than Mazda Motor Corp.'s entire annual domestic output, the business daily said.
Toyota group automakers Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd. have yet to finalize their plans for 2006, but they will likely increase their total output from the roughly 900,000 units projected for 2005 amid strong domestic sales, it said.
In contrast, global production of U.S. auto giant GM in 2006 is unlikely to top its 2005 projection of 9.12 million units in light of factory closures following a severe sales slump, the paper said.
Third China factory
NAGOYA (Kyodo) Toyota Motor Corp.'s joint venture with China's biggest automaker will build a third plant in Tianjin to start production of small cars in mid-2007, Toyota officials said Wednesday.
Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co.'s third plant will have an annual production capacity of 200,000 cars, they said. The joint venture was set up by Toyota and China FAW Group.
Toyota plans to boost annual production capacity in China to more than 500,000 cars, including those made at a plant to be completed in Guangzhou in 2006.
Tianjin FAW Toyota has recently started producing the Reiz luxury sedan, called the Mark X in Japan, at its second plant, which was completed in February in Tianjin.