Toyota sees 2008 global output up 5% at 9.95 mln

NAGOYA, Japan, Dec 25 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) said on Tuesday it expects to build a record 9.95 million vehicles next year, a rise of 5 percent that will cement its position as the world's biggest automaker ahead of General Motors Corp (GM.N).

Toyota, already the world's most profitable and valuable carmaker, expects to sell 9.85 million vehicles worldwide, up 5 percent.

In 2007 it produced an estimated 9.51 million vehicles together with units Daihatsu Motor Co (7262.T) and Hino Motors Ltd (7205.T).

The group raised sales by 6 percent to 9.36 million vehicles in 2007, compared with GM's sales forecast of 9.2 million. Stripping out GM's minority-held Chinese joint venture, Toyota overtook GM in 2006.

Toyota, maker of the popular Camry and Prius models, earlier this year forecast group-wide sales of 9.8 million vehicles in 2008 and 10.4 million in 2009. (Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim)