DETROIT (WKZO) -- The battle for global auto sales supremacy has turned back to Toyota.  The Japanese automaker saw a 23-percent increase in sales for 2012 and reportedly sold 9.75-million vehicles.

General Motors was in the top spot but fell short in the sales race for last year by selling 9.29-million vehicles.  Toyota includes two sub-brands in their sales figures.

Toyota is estimating sales of nearly ten-million vehicles worldwide in 2013.