GM’s Global Sales Hit 9.7 Million

General Motors Co. reports its worldwide car and truck deliveries in 2013 rose 4% to 9.7 million units.

Fourth-quarter volume grew 7% to nearly 2.5 million vehicles, thanks to 7% gains in North America and Asia Pacific/Africa/Middle East. Deliveries slipped 1% to 371,200 units in Europe but grew 1% to 267,700 in South America.

Full-year results in 2013 were flat for Chevrolet (4.98 million) and Opel/Vauxhall (1.1 million). But Buick sales surged 15% to 1 million vehicles, and Cadillac jumped 28% to 250,800.

By region, GM's volume last year rose 7% to 3.9 million in Asia Pacific/Africa/Middle East and 7% to 3.2 million vehicles in North America. Volume dropped 3% to 1.6 million units in Europe and slipped 1% to 1 million in South America.

GM's biggest gains at the national level in 2013 came in China (+11% to 3.2 million) and the U.S. (+7% to 2.8 million). Deliveries advanced 1% to 649,800 units in Brazil and 11% to 301,000 in the U.K. but plunged 11% to 257,600 vehicles in Russia.