Toyota increases China's dealers to 650 by year-end

Toyota Motor Corp said it plans to increase its dealer shops in China to around 650 stores by year-end, from over 550 in early August, reported Kyodo News Tuesday.

Precisely, Toyota will expand Toyota brand dealers to 589 from the current 506 and Lexus car dealers to 60 stores from the existing 50.

The move was part of its efforts to tap into a vibrant auto market that is likely to become the world's biggest, topping the US market this year, according to the publication.

Toyota's sales in China rose 43 percent in August from a year earlier to 66,600 units. Sales in the January-August period rose 9 percent from the same period last year to 415,000 units.

Rival Honda Motor Co also plans to increase stores in China to 760 this year, up 83 stores from the end of March, while Nissan Motor Co expects to have 408 stores, up 52 stores from the end of last year, officials of both companies said separately.