Toyota Motor Corp. group topped Germany's Volkswagen AG again to remain the top global auto seller for a third consecutive year in 2022, as it managed to reduce the impact of chip shortages that also affected rivals, data showed Monday.

Toyota said it sold around 10.48 million vehicles globally last year, including those produced by the group's minivehicle maker Daihatsu Motor Co. and truck manufacturer Hino Motors Ltd., down 0.1 percent from a year earlier.

The Japanese auto giant said its global output increased 5.3 percent to 10.61 million units, as enhanced production capabilities in North America and Asia helped limit the adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic and parts shortages.

Although Toyota's global auto sales dropped for the first time in two years, the volume was far ahead of rival Volkswagen, which saw its sales plunge 7.0 percent in 2022 to 8.26 million units, due to supply chain disruptions.

The Toyota group saw its global production expand for the second straight year after closely communicating with its suppliers, but the procurement of new vehicles has not caught up with demand, with sales still behind the record 10.74 million in 2019 before the pandemic.

"Becoming the top in sales volume is not our goal. We will continue to aim to be a company that is trusted in each region," a Toyota official said.

For Toyota alone, domestic output plunged 7.7 percent to 2.66 million units, its lowest level since 1976, affected significantly by the parts shortages, as many car models produced in Japan are equipped with advanced features and rely on many semiconductors.

Its domestic sales plunged 12.7 percent to 1.29 million.

The automaker's overseas production climbed 11.7 percent to record 6.38 million, while sales outside Japan grew 1.7 percent to record 8.28 million, thanks to solid demand in Asia.

The latest figures came after the carmaker announced Thursday that it will promote director Koji Sato to president effective April 1, replacing Akio Toyoda, who will become chairman.

==Kyodo

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