purchasing an equity stake in Shenyang Jinbei Passenger Vehicle Manufacturing Co.

Shenyang is 51 percent owned by Bermuda company Brilliance China Automotive Holdings.

Citing a story in the Jiji Press on Friday, Bloomberg business news service said that Toyota may consider setting up a holding company for Shenyang with Brilliance China.

Toyota sold a record 249,000 cars abroad in August.

Total 1995 overseas sales could reach a new high of 2.9 million vehicles.