The Canadian Press

A report from Scotia Economics says global car purchases rose by 15% in January over the same month last year.

The bank says it was the fourth consecutive month of double-digit increases.

Scotia Economics’ Global Auto Report says the increase was led by a doubling of sales in China.

North American automakers saw their market share grow to 45.6% for the month, moving further away from a record low of 41.2% last August.

Senior economist Carlos Gomes says the bank expects sales of cars and light trucks in North America will rise above 13 million units by the end of 2010.

That’s up from 11.9 million units last year, which included lengthy shutdowns of General Motors and Chrysler plants as those companies restructured.