Toyota tops GM in worldwide sales for first time in 2008

DETROIT -- Toyota Motor has ended General Motors' 77-year run as the world's top-selling automaker.

The Detroit automaker announced Wednesday that it sold 8.35 million cars and trucks worldwide in 2008 — a 10.8% decline compared with 2007.

"They passed us in terms of market cap, profitability, cash flow long ago," Henderson said. "I focus on the sales and how to make us successful. ... Honestly this is not a measure that I pay a lot of attention to."

With its sales declining in the United States and around the world, Toyota isn't reveling in its new leadership position, Don Esmond, senior vice president of Toyota's U.S. division, said Wednesday at the Automotive News event.

"I think, unfortunately, that we may be the winner of whose sales declined the least last year," Esmond said. "The decline that we are experiencing is pretty dramatic. And share doesn't always pay the bills."

Excluding mini-vehicle maker Daihatsu Motor and truck unit Hino Motors, Toyota's global sales fell 5% to 7.9 million vehicles.

Daihatsu's sales declined 4% to 866,000 vehicles, and Hino's declined 3% to 110,000 vehicles.

GM and Toyota ended 2007 neck and neck for bragging rights. Toyota sold 3,000 fewer vehicles in 2007 compared with GM.