General Motors had somewhat of a resurgence during 2011 and it recently put an exclamation mark on its path to recovery. The automaker announced earlier this week that it sold more than 9 million vehicles, vaulting it past Toyota to take the top spot, Bloomberg reports.

The figures mark a significant increase compared to 2010, when the company sold about 8.39 million vehicles. That 7.6 percent rise, coupled with the Japanese earthquake and tsunami that disrupted Toyota's production, made for a standout year for GM.

According to the news source, the accomplishment is especially good news for GM given its experience over the last several years. The last time it was the number one seller, in 2007, GM lost nearly $39 billion despite selling the most cars. This year, however it brought in an $8.1 billion profit.

"The difference between this title and other times is that they are profitable and that's where the bankruptcy was helpful," Rebecca Lindland, an industry analyst with IHS Automotive, told Bloomberg. "It's great to be No. 1, but it's a lot more fun to be profitable."

At the front of GM's resurgence was the performance of Chevrolet. The storied brand sold 4.76 million cars, the Los Angeles Times reports. The figures look especially more impressive if one considers that Chevrolet itself sold more than entire companies like Honda and Nissan.

Whether you're loyal to Chevrolet, Buick or GMC, New Jersey State Auto has the General Motors car you're looking for. Even if you want to go outside GM, the dealer has a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices.