The results mark only the second time the company—still the world’s largest, despite its crisis in North America and a surging Toyota—has sold more than 9 million units in a calendar year.

Sales of GM vehicles exceeded 9 million units for the first time since 1978 on strong results in GM’s three regions outside North America:

• Asia Pacific region up 20%. Sales topped 1 million units and GM became the top foreign automaker in China for the first time.

• Latin America, Africa and Middle East region up 19%. GM posted its eighth consecutive year of sales leadership and was No. 1 in Latin America for the fifth consecutive year.

• Europe up 1.1%. Cadillac, Corvette, HUMMER, Saab and Chevrolet set sales records for their brands.

Global sales of GM’s value brand, Chevrolet, increased 4.4% to 4.37 million units, compared with year-ago sales of 4.18 million. Sales of Chevrolet cars in Europe were up 26%. Chevrolet sales in China exceeded 100,000 units.

HUMMER sales nearly doubled globally in 2005 (61,000 vs. 31,000), paced by the launch of the “midsize” H3. (The H3 offers combined fuel economy of about 17 mpg US.)

While much of this growth was in the United States (up 93%), HUMMER also saw significant expansion in Mexico, Canada and Saudi Arabia. HUMMER SUVs are now sold in 33 national markets around the world.

GM expects further HUMMER growth outside North America this year with the availability of H3s in a left-hand-drive version from GM’s South Africa assembly plant. Right-hand and diesel models will be available in 2007 and 2008.

Cadillac posted a 42% increase in sales outside of North America last year, thanks to strong sales in China, the Middle East and Europe.

GM reportedly is considering exporting vehicles from its Chinese division to developing markets in a further sign of China’s potential to supply vehicles with low manufacturing costs. Markets under consideration include India, Indonesia, the Middle East and South America.