Car sales in the US rose by ten per cent in September according to the latest industry figures.

The chief driver of the increase was a two-year record hike in sales at General Motors, the world's largest automotive manufacturer.

Sales soared by 25 per cent at the firm, adding to other gains by DaimlerChrysler and Toyota to bump up the national figures.

In total, automotive makers sold 1.44 million cars and trucks in September, marking a significant improvement on the figures to date for the year.

At the current rate US sales would hit 17.5 million for the year, well up on August expectations of 16.6 million.

Paul Taylor, from the National Automobile Dealers Association, told the Associated Press that September had been a positive month.

"This was an overall good month for sales, despite the weather in the South East, and a month many producers needed," he explained.

Trucks were identified as one of the major areas of growth but the generally solid figures - which even compare favourably to the same period last year - are likely to boost confidence in the world's biggest car market.