Detroit - Sales volumes at General Motors continued to drop rapidly in the first nine months of 2008, the ailing carmaker reported Wednesday.

The company reported sales of 6.66 million vehicles, almost 6 per cent less than during the same period last year. In the third quarter alone, the company's sales fell by 
11.4 per cent to 2.11 units.

GM, recently lost its title as the world's leading carmaker to Toyota, which is also battling with declining demand. Its sales fell 4 per cent in the last quarter to 2.23 million units.

GM has been forced to undergo massive job cuts and close several US factories. It is currently considering a merger with Chrysler. In addition to hoped for government assistance for the deal, GM is also seeking aid for its financing arm GMAC through the 700-billion-dollar government rescue plan for the finance industry, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. (dpa)