Toyota is expecting to see a drop in its US sales this year as the car market continues to show little sign of strength.

According to reports from the BBC, the firm has lowered its sales forecast to 9.5 million vehicles, down from the 9.85 million it originally expected to sell.

However, despite the decrease it is still a one per cent increase on the number sold during last year.

The carmaker has recently adopted an approach focused on the development of smaller, more fuel efficient cars as reduced demand in the US is seeing Americans move away from heavier cars.

But a sales growth of one per cent this year would be a large difference from the six per cent annual increase expected.

The firm expects foreign sales to be two per cent higher than last year at 7.27 million although its domestic figures could fall by one per cent to 2.23 million.

The figures were revised yesterday (Monday) after the market had closed.



Source:
US gloom knocks Toyota forecasts, 28/07/08
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7528357.stm