AKIPRESS.COM - Toyota Motor Corp. stayed at the top in global vehicle sales in 2014, taking that auto industry crown for the third year straight, but was less upbeat about this year, according to Economic Times.

The Japanese automaker sold 10.23 million vehicles, beating out Volkswagen and General Motors. But it expects to sell fewer trucks and cars this year, forecasting sales will fall 1 per cent year-on-year to 10.15 million vehicles, according to numbers released Wednesday.

The drop is largely due to a projected 9 per cent plunge in Japan sales. Japan sales had been inflated in the early part of last year ahead of a sales tax hike. Overall, the Japanese auto market is weakening because of population decline.

Toyota expects overseas sales to grow 2 per cent this year to more than 8 million vehicles from 7.9 million vehicles last year.

Volkswagen AG of Germany sold 10.14 million vehicles in 2014, up 4 per cent from the previous year. Detroit-based General Motors Co. was third at 9.92 million vehicles, a company record and 2 per cent higher than its tally in 2013. GM gave its numbers earlier this month.

Selling 10 million vehicles around the world in a year is a milestone for major automakers. And the race is intense as automakers increasingly compete in new markets.

Toyota's sales grew 6 per cent in the US from the previous year, 13 per cent in China, and 10 per cent in Brazil, according to the maker of the Camry sedan, Prius hybrid and Lexus luxury models.