Toyota sees 2008 global output expanding

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) expects its global production in 2008 to expand to about 9.9 million vehicles, about 500,000 units more than the projection for this year, the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday.

The expected growth in global output is due to continuing robust sales in China, the Middle East and other emerging economies, the paper said.

Toyota is set to unseat General Motors Corp (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) as the world's biggest car maker by sales volume this year.

No one at Toyota could be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Aiko Hayashi; Editing by Alan Raybould)