GM sold more cars than its rival car makers last year - although officials from nearest rival VW have indicated they do not agree with the system of counting sales.
GM reported that its sales rose 7.6 per cent last year to more than 9 million vehicles. Volkswagen claimed 8.1 million sales, but unlike its rival says it didn't include sales via its Chinese partners.
Toyota, formerly the world's highest-selling car maker, slipped to third, with 7.9 million sales, following production problems in the wake of the tsunami in Japan and floods in Thailand.
The sales figures represent a remarkable turnaround for GM, which went in to bankruptcy in 2009. It now sells more cars in Asia than America.
