Toyota, perceived as the company that can give General Motors a run for their money to become the largest automaker in the world, has proved unable to escape the consequences of global economic shifting. 

According to the statement quoted by the Associated Press, Toyota's president,Katsuaki Watanabe, stated that sales forcast for the company has been reduced and predicted lowered number through 2009. He said, "We have been going at top speed up to now, it is time to set more cautious targets." 

These new predictions for the company including Daihatsu Motors and Hino cars would generate a projected 9.7 million cars and trucks to be sold in 2009. Although still 2.1 percent higher than the forecast 9.5 million units for 2008, the figure is 700,000 units lower than original estimates. 

Part of the revised sales forecast includes a 10 percent pull-back on expected U.S. sales to 2.7 million units. Toyota became very cautious with their sales of cars as it is being hit hard in the United States wherein trucks and SUVs are heavily emphasized and preferred. Moreover, Autopartswarehouse has foudn out that form factors that have fallen from favor with the general public in the fact of high gasoline prices and growing environmental concerns has greatly affected the company.

As a whole, sales of most automotive companies have been in a downfall in both North America and Western Europe, the world's two most important markets. Sales in the U.S. are down 10.6 percent for the January-July period over 2007 and European sales dropped 2 percent in the first six months of this year.