Toyota global vehicle sales up 28 percent in Jan-Sept

TOKYO — Toyota sold 7.4 million vehicles around the world in the first nine months of this year, up 28 percent from a year earlier, but its strong growth faces headwinds from a sales plunge in China that could unseat it as the world’s top automaker.

Anti-Japanese sentiment flared in China after Japan nationalized tiny islands in the East China Sea, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, intensifying a territorial dispute. The move set off violent protests in China and a widespread call to boycott Japanese goods.

Toyota’s vehicle sales in China dropped to about half of last year’s levels in September to 44,100 vehicles.

Toyota reclaimed its crown as the world’s top automaker from General Motors Co. in the first half.