Toyota took the No. 1 spot for worldwide car sales in 2013 with a record 9.98 million in sales.

The Japanese automaker beat General Motors by around 270,000 vehicles, Toyota sales rising about 2 percent from the previous year, The Associated Press reported.

Toyota has been "typically low-key about the bragging rights for being No. 1, reiterating its comments from previous years that it was merely making one car at a time to appeal to global consumers," according to the AP.

The next goal for the Aichi, Japan-based company is to sell more than 10 million vehicles this year. If Toyota surpasses 10 million in sales, it will set a new record, according to the AP. The carmaker's plans are to manufacture 10.43 million vehicles and sell 10.32 million.

In second place, General Motors saw worldwide sales of 9.71 million cars and trucks in 2013, while German carmaker Volkswagen AG took the third spot with 9.5 million in sales.

The American carmaker was the top-selling brand worldwide for more than 70 years until Toyota took the No. 1 title in 2008.

Toyota "has made an impressive comeback" after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011, the AP said. The disaster in northeastern Japan temporarily crippled production and damaged auto suppliers.

While Toyota's sales fell in Japan, the brand saw strong growth in overseas markets. In the United States, Toyota sold almost 2.24 million vehicles, a 7 percent jump from 2012. Toyota sales also rose in China, increasing 9 percent for 917,000 in sales.

Toyota may stay low-key when it comes to taking the top spot, but being No. 1 is a vital morale booster for U.S. rival General Motors.

Strong sales for the top three best-selling companies signify growth in the auto industry.

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