(January 24, 2011) TOKYO — Toyota was the world's largest automaker for a third year in 2010 edging out General Motors by about 300,000 units, as a recovery in global vehicle demand outweighed a decline in U.S. sales.

Toyota's sales, including its luxury Lexus marque as well as deliveries from affiliates Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd., rose 8 percent to 8.42 million units in 2010, the automaker said in a statement Monday.

General Motors said on Monday that its worldwide deliveries gained 12 percent to 8.39 million units.

Toyota's U.S. sales slowed 0.4 percent to 1.76 million units last year after the company struggled to recover its reputation following record recalls for defects related to unintended acceleration.

While its China sales jumped 19 percent, they trailed behind GM's 29 percent surge in the world's largest market.

“Toyota's sales in Asia are growing, but in China it's clearly lagging behind GM and other market leaders,” said Satoru Takada, a Tokyo-based analyst at TIW Inc. “In the U.S., with the recalls, a lack of splashy new models and the top-selling Camry at the end of its cycle, the result is not surprising.”

Volkswagen, the world's third biggest carmaker, sold 7.14 million vehicles in 2010, an increase of 14 percent, and forecast growth of 5 percent in 2011, sales chief Christian Klingler said on Jan. 10.

— Source Bloomberg News