General Motors says its December sales were down 10 percent and off 33 percent for 2009, a year that saw the top U.S. automaker go through bankrutpcy court and industry sales drop to the worst level in nearly 30 years, according to The Associated Press.

The troubled automaker faltered even as crosstown rival Ford Motor Co. reported a 33 percent sales jump last month and a 15-percent decline for the year. Chrysler sales slipped 4 percent in December but it suffered through its worst sales year since 1962.

Nissan sales climbed 18 percent for the month but fell 19 percent for the year.

GM and Chrysler are trying to recover from summertime stints in Chapter 11 and bad publicity over taking government aid.