Toyota Motor Corp. (7203), the world's largest automaker for the past several years, has once again fought off all odds and sold the most cars in the world for the first fiscal quarter of 2012.  Toyota sales rose 18 percent to 2.49 million in the quarter allowing Toyota to retain the "world's largest automaker" title again, surpassing domestic brands.

As Jim Wiseman, Toyota's North American vice president of external affairs, explains:

"Although being number one is not the main goal for us, it's nice to see because hopefully it shows we're on the right track.  With customers reacting so positively to all of the new and updated products we're introducing this year, we're optimistic the good momentum will continue."

Toyota has come a long way as well, and in investor statements this week Toyota Motors stated they expect profits to more than double to a five-year high as the company rebounds from last year's natural disasters, continues to introduce new models to regain market share, and continue to see strong sales in America whose increase of 26 percent to 2.35 million units leads all other areas.  Other areas of the world are also seeing huge increases, with deliveries in Japan going up 6.2 percent, 34 percent in the rest of Asia, and 10 percent in Europe, according to Toyota.

Through April 2012 alone, sales in the United States expanded 12 percent, according to Autodata Corporation in New Jersey, equating to about  665,328 new Toyota vehicle sales versus 2011.  Toyota is doing well and, though they will surely rise and falls over time, the brand is still very much alive and well, creating more and more fuel efficient cars for its more and more customers all around the world.

Blake Larner
Handy Toyota
St. Albans, VT  05478