CHICAGO - General Motors on Wednesday reported $2.5 billion profit in the third quarter, up significantly year-on-year, thanks to satisfactory performance in North America and China.

The profit was in sharp contrast to a year ago, when GM posted a huge loss due to the sale of its failing Opel-Vauxhall business in Europe.

GM North America posted strong margins of 10.2 percent in the third quarter, driven by an increase in average transaction prices.

The US automaker delivered nearly 700,000 vehicles in its home market in the third quarter, while some 836,000 vehicles were delivered in China in the same period. GM's losses in South America were offset by the $500 million it made in China.

"Our third-quarter performance demonstrates our determination to manage risks and deliver strong business results while continuing to advance the future of mobility," said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra in a statement.

Despite challenging market conditions, according to the Q3 report, GM China achieved record third-quarter equity income, driven by a strong mix of vehicles in popular segments, led by record Cadillac sales and strong Chevrolet deliveries.

In a bid to keep its momentum in China, GM has been introducing 10 new or refreshed models in the second half of 2018.