Toyota, the world’s second biggest automaker, announced it lowered the 2009 sales forecast by nearly 7 percent as skyrocketing gasoline prices hummer demand for large cars, SUV’s and pickup trucks in the U.S. and in Western Europe.

Toyota revised its sales forecast to 9.7 million units. Toyota planned to sell 10.4 million vehicles, which would be the record for any automaker. Toyota will cut back production in the U.K. and  Poland.

The automaker also announced it will accelerate the rol lout of hybrid and electric cars as their popularity increase.

[Via: Reuters]