DETROIT -- After three years of second place, General Motors reclaimed its title as the world's largest automaker in 2011, a year when its sales grew in every region of the globe while Toyota was hampered by major natural disasters.

GM reported Thursday that it sold 9,025,942 vehicles last year, 7.6 percent more than in 2010. Its closest competitor was Volkswagen, whose sales grew 14 percent to 8.16 million. The French-Japanese alliance of Renault and Nissan was third, selling 8.03 million vehicles.

Toyota finished fourth with 7.9 million vehicles sold. Its sales were hurt by the March earthquake in Japan that slowed its factories, and dealers ran short of cars. Toyota has forecast that it will sell 8.48 million vehicles in 2012.

The industry's sales crown means little beyond bragging rights. But GM's ability to climb back on top, only two years removed from its government rescue and bankruptcy, is certain to bolster morale within the company and strengthen the Obama Administration's argument that its bailout of the industry was worthwhile.

GM was the world's largest automaker for more than 70 years before Toyota surpassed it in 2008. Publicly, at least, GM executives have been careful to avoid celebrating amid Toyota's struggles.

"I want to win in the marketplace, but I want to win against a healthy and vibrant Toyota and Honda," GM's chief executive, Dan Akerson, said last year. "Next year, we'll put the gloves back on, and I'm sure they'll go right back at us and we'll go back at them."

Auto industry analysts predict a tight race this year among GM, Volkswagen, Toyota, and Nissan-Renault.

Some analysts have said VW is the world's biggest automaker because GM's figures include vehicles made by its Wuling joint venture in China. Many don't count Wuling because GM doesn't have controlling interest in the company, but GM includes it in global sales figures.

First Published January 20, 2012, 5:00 a.m.