TOYOTA to unseat GM as world's top automaker

The Toyota Motor Corp. group is expected to boost its global automobile production to more than 9.2 million units in 2006, making it almost certain that the group will surpass General Motors Corp. to become the world's top automaker in terms of output. Toyota has decided to raise its global production volume 12% from its 2005 projection to 8.3 million cars next year, an increase of roughly 900,000 units, which is more than Mazda Motor Corp.'s entire annual domestic output. In contrast, GM's global production next year is unlikely to top its 2005 projection of 9.12 million cars.