The world's second largest car manufacturer, General Motors, sold 9.71 million vehicles in 2013, an increase of 4% on the year before, BBC News reports.

Sales in the U.S. were up 7%, while in China and the UK they increased by 11%.

GM has been facing stiff competition from rival Volkswagen - the third biggest carmaker - and Toyota, which is the largest.

The company recently appointed Mary Barra as chief executive, the first female boss of a U.S. carmaker.

General Motors is still the largest U.S. auto firm, with Ford and Chrysler in second and third position.

The latest figures come after General Motors reported a fall in car sales in December 2013, in what was a disappointing month overall for the car industry in the U.S.

GM reported a 6.3% fall in sales compared with December 2012.

GM was bailed out by the U.S. government in 2009 at the height of the financial crisis. The U.S. Treasury spent $49.5bn, taking a 61% stake in the company.

However, at the end of 2013 the U.S. government sold its remaining shares in GM. Overall, it lost about $10bn on the bailout.