GENEVA, Mar 06 (AP/UNB) - Toyota Europe's chief executive says the automaker has recovered from the impact of Japan's tsunami and earthquake last March 11 and he expects to increase both sales and market share in Europe despite a contracting market.

Didier Leroy told a small group of journalists late Monday that Toyota Europe expects to sell 835,000 cars in 56 European markets in 2012 for a 4.5 percent market share. That's up from a 4.2 percent slice of the market on sales of 822,000 last year, when deliveries were slowed by the devastating twin disasters.

Didier said that he expects Toyota Europe's automotive business to be close to breaking even when the 2011 fiscal year closes at the end of March, and expects it to turn a profit in 2012. Including its financial services, Toyota Europe was profitable last year.