Toyota sold 10.35 million vehicles in 2017

Toyota sold more than 10 million vehicles around the world in 2017, a result likely to put the Japanese carmaker close to last year's No.1, Volkswagen.

In this Nov. 13, 2017 photo, visitors take a look at a Toyota car at its showroom in Tokyo Source: AAP

Toyota says it sold 10.35 million vehicles around the world this year, up two per cent from the previous year, 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.

Volkswagen sold 10.3 million vehicles last year, 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.