(autoinsidernews) - Despite General Motors' troubles in the U.S., the automaker's global sales declined by less than 1 percent in 2006. General Motors sold 9.09 million cars and trucks around the world in 2006, with strong growth in Asia offseting the U.S. slump.
Sales outside of the U.S. accounted for about 55 percent of GM's total global sales, up about 7 percent from 2005, which outpaced the industry average of 6 percent.
GM sales grew by 26 percent in the Asia/Pacific region, with GM China up more than 32 percent. In the Latin America, Africa and Middle East region, GM sales were up 17 percent compared with 2005. GM broke the 2 million barrier in Europe driven by a 59 increase in Eastern Europe, reports Trend.
GM's sales in the United States dropped almost 9 percent in 2006. GM attributes much of the losses to its decision to cut back on unprofitable sales to daily rental fleets and the overall industrywide slump.
GM has a global market share of about 14 percent, compared to about 25 percent in the U.S. market.