GM said it was boosted by sales in emerging markets

Yet while GM has given an exact figure down to the last car, Toyota earlier this month only broke down its 2007 sales data to 9.37 million vehicles.

Where the Japanese company is definitely ahead is in the growing rate of its sales growth.

Toyota's figure for 2007 sales was a 6% rise on 2006, while its big US rival only saw its annual sales advance 3%.

Emerging markets

GM, which is continuing a cost-cutting drive to turnaround the company's fortunes, said its sales growth was particularly strong in China, Russia and Brazil.

Some analysts say GM cannot hold off Toyota indefinitely

"This is the kind of emerging market growth that fuels our global performance," said John Middlebrook, GM vice president for global sales.

"Customers are responding to our fuel-efficient and dynamically-designed product line-up around the world."