Skip advert
Advertisement

GM back on top

Posting some impressive international sales figures, General Motors once again becomes the worlds largest car company

General Motors re-overtakes Toyota to become the world's best-selling car company once again, shifting over 9 million vehicles worldwide, the Detroit-manufacturer's best ever result.

The biggest driver for this victory has been Chevrolet's worldwide sales-effort, accounting for 4.76 million of GM's result, with some big increases in sales in both emerging and developed markets. 15 countries have the biggest year-on-year increase ever, including Peru (81 percent), Vietnam (79 percent), Thailand (57 percent), South Africa (50 percent) and Israel (46 percent).

Advertisement - Article continues below

Chevrolet's biggest seller was the Cruze, with over 670,000 sold internationally in 2011 alone. GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson was incredibly happy about the result, and said: 'Chevrolet's impressive growth in both established and developing markets is the result of a strong new product lineup that meets the diverse needs of consumers around the world. In addition to Chevrolet's record-setting sales, the entire lineup of GM vehicles is meeting customer needs for fuel-efficient cars and work vehicles as well as unmatched luxury.'

Previous world leader, Toyota, has been very badly affected throughout the year by the Japanese Tsunami and aftermath, which will have undoubtedly had an impact on sales. The Japanese giant suffered parts shortages and production problems throughout the year, also affected badly by the Thailand floods. 

Market Total 2011 Sales

United States

Brazil

China

Russia

Mexico

Canada

Argentina

Uzbekistan

India

Colombia

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Citroën C5 Aircross review – quirky, honest SUV offering Range Rover comfort on a budget
Citroën C5 Aircross
In-depth reviews

Citroën C5 Aircross review – quirky, honest SUV offering Range Rover comfort on a budget

When is a generic family crossover not the dullest thing on Earth? When it’s a comfy Citroën glazed in weirdness
9 Apr 2026
Porsche 911 (992.2) review – more complex than ever, but still the best sports car
Porsche 911 (992.2) – front
In-depth reviews

Porsche 911 (992.2) review – more complex than ever, but still the best sports car

The 992-generation 911 has taken time to reveal its character, but it’s evolved into a sports car with enormous breadth and ability
10 Apr 2026
Looking for a used performance car icon? Try these – car pictures of the week
Used performance car icons
Features

Looking for a used performance car icon? Try these – car pictures of the week

Does price, a lack of personality and irritating mandated nannying in new cars put you off? Look to the stars of the past…
11 Apr 2026