Toyota says it sold 10.35-million vehicles in 2017

Tokyo, Japan - Toyota says it sold 10.35-million vehicles around the world this year, up 2% from 2016, and predicts higher sales in 2018.

The number, announced Wednesday, is likely to put the Japanese automaker close to last year's No. 1, Volkswagen AG of Germany.

Toyota expecting to sell close to 10.5-million cars in 2018

Volkswagen sold 10.3-million vehicles in 2016 putting it ahead of Toyota and US automaker General Motors.

Toyota, which sold nearly 10.2-million vehicles worldwide last year, said it expects to sell 10.495-million in 2018.

Nissan-Renault, which reported solid sales in the first half of this year, has run into some problems after inspections irregularities were reported at its Japanese plants.

The other automakers have not yet reported this year's sales numbers.