Toyota: Return to U.S. market share peak unlikely

Toyota says that its heyday of a 17 percent market share in the United States isn't something it ever expects to see again.

The automaker's U.S. market Senior Managing Officer, Jim Lentz, told reporters today in Japan that in 2009 when it captured 17 percent of the American market, "we had some tailwinds that were very, very unique."

He continued, "I'm not sure if 17 percent is a realistic number. But somewhere between today's 14 [percent] and that number, I think we will continue to grow."

Toyota's sales took a nose dive in 2009 first when it was forced to recall millions of cars globally to rectify floor mats and throttle pedal issues related to unintended acceleration. And then in 2011, the earthquake and tsunami that rocked northern Japan crippled its global production for months.

Currently, the automaker's market share in the U.S. stands at about 14.2 percent. Sales through the first five months this year in the U.S., including its Lexus and Scion divisions, are up about 5.2 percent.