Toyota Motor’s global vehicle sales, including Lexus, fell 4.8% year over year to 856,125 units in July, while production declined 2.1% to 828,629, marking the first declines for both measures in two months. China sales dropped 24.3% to 114,747 units for a sixth consecutive month as higher gasoline prices weakened demand for gasoline-powered and hybrid vehicles and competition from local manufacturers intensified. Middle East sales fell 44.5%, while North American sales were broadly flat at 216,361 units, down 0.8%. Japan sales rose 11.0% to 150,097 units and Europe grew about 3% to 97,229 units. Global electrified-vehicle sales, including plug-in hybrids, increased 15% to 473,691 units, or 55% of total sales, while EV sales more than doubled to 36,991 units. Group-wide sales including Daihatsu Motor fell 5.3% to 912,683 units. Exports from Japan rose 10.2% to about 196,000 units, their third consecutive monthly increase and highest level since October, with shipments to the Middle East rising 3% as regional demand showed tentative signs of recovery.