GM's global 2013 sales rise 4%

A worker walks behind a logo of General Motors after the announcement of the closing of the Opel assembly plant in Antwerp January 21, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

General Motors Co?said on Tuesday its global sales grew 4 percent in 2013 on strong demand in the world's two largest auto markets, China and the United States.

Sales of the top US automaker hit 9,714,652 cars and light trucks, an increase of more than 417,000 vehicles, as demand surged 11 percent to a record high in China and rose 7 percent in the United States.

"A healthy auto market in the United States and China, and very successful product launches at all of our brands worldwide drove GM's growth in 2013 and helped us navigate difficult conditions in Europe and parts of South America and Asia," GM Chief Financial Officer Dan Ammann said in a statement.

Ammann will become GM's president this week.