GM Sold 9.7 Million Cars Worldwide Last Year

DETROIT -- General Motors (IW 500/5) said Tuesday that it sold 9.71 million cars last year, beating out rival carmaker Volkswagen but likely only holding onto second place behind world leader Toyota.

GM said it managed a 4% gain in global sales despite tough conditions in depressed Europe and slowdowns in Latin America and parts of Asia.

Sales grew 7% in the United States and 11% in China, now the world's leading markets.

GM unit Chevrolet sold a record 4.98 million cars and trucks, while its luxury brand, Cadillac, gained 28% on the back of strong sales of 50,000 units in China alone.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2014