General Motors, which has been the world's leading car maker for 76 years, ended 2007 in a virtual tie with Japanese rival Toyota.
GM, which has faced a steady loss of market share in its key US market, was widely expected to concede the top spot after Toyota reported higher anticipated global production in December.
But a strong fourth quarter gave GM enough momentum for a near photo-finish. It reported global sales of 9,369,524 vehicles, compared with Toyota's report earlier this month rounded to 9,370,000.
The Detroit firm's sales grew 3% in 2007 while Toyota sales increased 6%.
GM has been the world's best-selling car maker since 1931 with an all-time record of selling 9.55 million vehicles in 1978.
The US company said its 2007 results were the second best global total in its 100-year history, with more than a million vehicles sold in China.
