Overseas sales lift GM over Toyota

General Motors Corp. outsold Toyota Motor Corp. in the first nine months of the year, buoyed by sales outside the U.S., in the battle to extend its 76-year reign as the world’s largest carmaker.

GM sold 7.06 million vehicles through September, helped by Chevrolet-brand sales and the Opel Corsa small car, taking a lead of 10,000 units over Toyota’s 7.05 million, the two companies said in separate statements Monday. At the end of the first half, Toyota, maker of the Camry sedan, led by 39,000 vehicles.

Toyota’s sales in the U.S., its largest overseas market, dropped each month of the third quarter, the longest stretch of declines since 1995. Detroit-based GM won customers in Brazil, Russia and China, boosting sales by 4% in the quarter.

Toyota sold 2.34 million vehicles globally, compared with GM’s 2.39 million, in the three months that ended Sept. 30.

GM’s biggest boost in the quarter came from its Latin America, Africa and Middle East region. Sales there advanced 22% to 329,398 units. GM’s sales in North America, its largest market, declined 6.1% during the quarter to 1.21 million vehicles.