North County Times (Enlarge photo)

01/09/2008 21:11. Toyota has lowered its global sales target for 2009 by 700,000 vehicles to 9.7 million, showing that even one of the worlds most durable automakers is being hurt by rising material costs, a slowing U.S. market and soaring gas prices.

The lower target would still be a 2 percent increase from the companys 2008 sales goal of 9.5 million. // Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

25/08/2008 21:10. TOKYO, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp 7203.T said on Monday it would raise suggested retail prices on some hybrid and commercial vehicles in Japan from next month to help absorb higher prices of steel, crude oil and other raw materials.

Prices will increase by 3 percent for the Prius and Harrier hybrid vehicles, and by an average 2 percent on commercial vehicles including some Dyna/Toyoace trucks and Probox vans, it said in a statement.

The move by Japan's top automaker is likely to prompt others to follow suit, after executives at rival companies said they would wait for Toyota (nyse: TM - news - people )'s lead.

'Recent further price increases in raw materials have been larger than Toyota's cost reduction efforts are able to offset,' Toyota said in a statement.

The... // Forbes

Total: 2895 news articles, 551 photos
First News Article: Infibeam, 23/07/2008 20:56