Toyota's global sales down in July-September

TOKYO: Japan's top automaker, Toyota Motor Corp, said Monday its global sales in the July-September quarter fell for the first time in seven years due to faltering demand in the US.

Toyota sold 2.24 million vehicles worldwide during the quarter, down 4 per cent from the same period last year. It marked the first year-on-year decline in the July-September period since 2001, the company said.

The Japanese auto giant had enjoyed strong US sales earlier this year on robust demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, but September sales there dropped 32 per cent due to sluggish consumer spending.

Toyota has been vying with General Motors Corp to be the world's biggest automaker by global sales. Last year, Toyota's group sales - including those from minicar maker Daihatsu Motor Co and truck maker Hino Motors Ltd - rose to 9.366 million vehicles, just shy of GM's 9.37 million.

Shares in Toyota shed 0.9 per cent to close the morning session at 3,170 yen Monday.