Global Toyota Sales, Production Fall Third Straight Month

Toyota reported its third consecutive monthly decline in global vehicle sales and production in September, with sales down 2.2% year over year to 860,107 vehicles and output down 3.2% to 889,079. China remained the largest drag: sales fell 19.7% for an eighth straight month, as higher fuel prices weakened demand for gasoline and hybrid cars, while production there dropped 18.6%. Sales in the Middle East plunged 29.8%; gains in the United States and Japan partially offset the declines. Bloomberg reported a separate, broader tally that includes Daihatsu, putting global sales at 921,847 and production at 989,168, with year-over-year declines of 2.9% and 4.5%, respectively.