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  Car sales for February are by 17.1 per cent compared to 2009.

Car sales in Australia continue to rise strongly as the economy recovers from the global financial crisis.

The showroom result for February is up by 17.1 per cent over the same month in 2009, or 11,978 vehicles, according to official VFacts industry figures released at noon today.

Toyota continues as overall sales leader, ahead of GM Holden, as it rebuilds from a slow start to the year and grows its market share to 20.5 per cent. The big growth area in last month's sales is rental cars, which were up by 175 per cent as companies returned to re-stock for 2010.

The sales news comes as the head of GM Holden, Alan Batey, leaves the top job. Batey has been summoned to the USA - joining former Holden president Mark Reuss and public affairs honcho Jason Laird - in a senior post at General Motors. He will be head of sales and service for Chevrolet in the USA, a move which has happened so quickly the top post at Fishermans Bend will temporarily be left vacant.