TOKYO (AP) - Toyota's global sales topped those of GM in the first half of the year.

The Japanese automaker sold more than 4.8 million vehicles in the first six months of the year, marking a rise of 2 percent from the same period a year earlier.

That topped GM's total of 4.5 million vehicles, putting Toyota in the driver's seat to possibly end GM's 77-year reign as the world's top seller.

The Detroit automaker blames the tough U.S. economy. GM notes that it posted record-breaking sales in other regions, including Latin America, Asia and Europe.

Toyota has been aggressively switching models to boost production of smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles instead of trucks and sport utility vehicles to meet changing consumer tastes.


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