$TM Poised to Take Back First Place in Sales, $VOW and $GM Fight for Second Place

“Toyota Motor Corp. (7203) is poised to take back the title of world’s biggest automaker for 2012, as Volkswagen AG (VOW) fights General Motors Co. (GM) for second place heading into the final weeks.

The battle among the world’s biggest carmakers comes as the industry is headed for a record year. Global 2012 sales will top 80 million cars and trucks for the first time, as robust U.S. and Japanese purchases offset a European downturn, according to estimates from LMC Automotive. Toyota is rebounding from Japan’s 2011 tsunami to take the title from GM, while the fight for second between Volkswagen and GM remains too close to call, with less than one percent difference between their sales.”

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