Toyota ends GM’s reign as top automaker

General Motors Corp.’s 77-year run as the world’s largest-selling automaker has come to an end, beaten by Toyota Motor Corp.

The Detroit automaker announced today that it sold 8.35 million cars and trucks across the globe in 2008 – a 10.8% decline compared with 2007.

Toyota sold 622,000 more cars and trucks throughout the world. The Japanese automaker announced Tuesday that its global sales number was 8.972 million in 2008 – a 4% decline compared with a year earlier.

Excluding mini-vehicle maker Daihatsu Motor and truck unit Hino Motors, Toyota’s global sales fell 5% to 7.9 million vehicles.