Dec. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp. plans to build a record number of vehicles next year, likely widening its lead over General Motors Corp. as the world's biggest carmaker by production.

Output will rise 5 percent to 9.95 million vehicles in 2008 from 9.51 million in 2007, while sales may rise 5 percent to 9.85 million, Toyota said in a release today. GM said on Dec. 3 its production will total about 9.26 million in 2007.

Toyota, Japan's most profitable company, opened a factory in St. Petersburg, Russia, last week and will add production in North America and China in 2008. Rising gasoline prices are spurring demand for the Toyota City-based carmaker's fuel- efficient Camry sedans and Prius gasoline-electric hybrid cars.

``The company's cars give it an edge,'' said Hitoshi Yamamoto, who manages the equivalent of $5.5 billion in Japanese equities as chief executive officer of Fortis Asset Management in Tokyo. ``Toyota will solidify its position as the top carmaker in 2008.''

Sales and production figures for Toyota include vehicles built by its Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd. subsidiaries.

To contact the reporter on this story: Naoko Fujimura in Tokyo at nfujimura@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: December 25, 2007 00:10 EST