Toyota is once again the world's top automaker after it officially released its tally for global vehicle sales for last year Monday, Jan 28, at 9.748 million vehicles — a bigger number than the estimate it gave last month at about 9.7 million vehicles, The Associated Press reports.

It was already clear Toyota had dethroned General Motors Co. as the Detroit-based automaker fell short, selling 9.29 million vehicles.

GM had been the top-selling automaker for more than seven decades before losing the title to Toyota in 2008.

GM retook the sales crown in 2011, when Toyota's production was hurt by the quake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

Volkswagen AG of Germany sold a record 9.1 million vehicles around the world.