Figures for just the past five years show how much Toyota Motor Corp. has prospered. During that period, the carmaker continued to post record sales, profits, production and sales units, ultimately taking the top of the hill from General Motors Corp.
In the five years to last March — the latest full-year figures available — Toyota's sales rose 52 percent to ¥26.3 trillion while net profit increased 48 percent. In the same period, the carmaker sold 2.2 million more cars worldwide, up 33 percent from fiscal 2003.
Toyota snatched the title of world No. 1 carmaker in terms of sales in 2008, surpassing GM's global sales, ending the Detroit giant's 77-year reign.