Toyota sees U.S. sales up 3-5 percent in 2007

DETROIT (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp.'s (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) vice president of external affairs told Reuters on Tuesday the automaker "can envision" a 3 percent to 5 percent U.S. sales increase in 2007.

"I don't believe that anyone in our organization believes it's going to be in the 10 to 12 percent range that it has been in the last couple of years," Irv Miller said at the Reuters Auto Summit in Detroit.

"But I think that we can envision a solid 3, 4, 5 percent increase next year. That would be something we would like to see."

The Japanese automaker's U.S. sales have risen 11 percent so far this year, with a 13 percent rise in car sales and an 8.5 increase in truck sales. Analysts expect Toyota to surpass General Motors Corp. (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) as the world's largest automaker next year.

Toyota plans to launch the next generation of its Tundra pickup truck early next year, a model Miller said is critical to its sales growth in 2007.

"Maybe even more critical than when we launched the Lexus division," he said. "It's a critical product for us and one our dealers are really looking forward to."

"Our sales growth will depend a lot on the acceptance of the truck."

Toyota currently has two pick-up truck models -- the Tacoma and Tundra, both of which have seen a gain in sales despite overall weakness in the segment.