GM Breaks 9 Million Taking Global Sales Crown From Toyota

General Motors Co., saying today it sold 9.03 million vehicles worldwide last year, regained its spot as the world's top-selling automaker as Toyota Motor Corp. struggled with floods, earthquakes and a tsunami.

GM's deliveries rose 7.6 percent from 8.39 million in 2010, the company said on its website, topping an analyst's estimate and exceeding the 9 million mark for the first time since 2007. Toyota, which ended GM's 77-year reign as the world's largest automaker in 2008, hasn't reported full-year results. Toyota has estimated that 2011 calendar year sales will decrease 6 percent to 7.9 million.

The return to No. 1 marks a sharp rebound for GM, coming two years after the company exited a U.S. government-backed bankruptcy. When GM was last No. 1, in 2007, it was known as General Motors Corp. and lost $38.7 billion. Last year, the Detroit-based automaker may have earned $8.1 billion, the average of four analyst estimates.

“The difference between this title and other times is that they are profitable and that's where the bankruptcy was helpful,” Rebecca Lindland, an industry analyst with IHS Automotive, said today in a telephone interview. “It's great to be No. 1, but it's a lot more fun to be profitable.”

GM Chief Executive Officer Dan Akerson has said that he places a higher priority on profit margins than on global unit volumes. While analysts estimate that GM will boost revenue 2.9 percent to $154.2 billion this year, he is pushing for profit margins before interest and taxes to beat those of Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG.

“We need to focus on profits and margins and not necessarily try to post numbers on the board,” Akerson told reporters at the Detroit auto show earlier this month. “We want to grow in terms of our cash flow so we can continue to invest in both up and down cycles and be strong financially.”