Mumbai: According to the latest auto sales figure for the quarter ending, 31 March 2008, Japanese car maker, Toyota has pipped its US rival General Motors (GM) to become the world's leading car company in terms of total units sold globally.

Toyota sold 2.41 million vehicles during the first three months of the year, an increase of 2.7 per cent as compared to GM, who sold 2.25 million vehicles over the period, which is 1 per cent less compared to the previous year.

Auto experts believe that with the anticipated recession in the US, auto sales have gone down, which has affected GM sales. Toyota's bigger range of  fuel efficient cars, compared to GM also gives puts it ahead of its American rival in the global market, which demands more eco-friendly car due to soaring oil prices and global warming hazards. It is only a matter of time before Toyota becomes the world's top car maker, beating GM.

General Motors has suffered a 10 per cent fall in the US sales, which has pulled down the total figure, in spite of  record sales in few countries outside the US. In a bid to compete with rivals, GM has been active in cutting costs and launching  environmentally-friendly alternatives.

The firm, which sells its vehicles under the brands such as Saab, Buick,Vauxhall, Chevrolet and others, felt that things were going to get worse before they got better because of the soaring cost of petrol, but it expected a recovery in the second half of the year.

"While the challenges of the US economy continue to put pressure on the automotive industry there, we saw nearly 20 per cent in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, and 6 per cent growth in the Asia Pacific region," stated John Middlebrook, GM vice president of global sales.

Toyota stated that its sales were lifted due to the demand in the Asian market, including China for its fuel-efficient small cars. The company recorded good sales of its Corolla model in China, the fastest growing economy in the world, while its pickup trucks sold well in Thailand.