Toyota Motor Corp.’s profit rose 2 percent in the July-September quarter, lifted by growing sales around the world , in sharp contrast with the dismal results at U.S. counterparts General Motors and Ford.

Japan’s No. 1 automaker on Friday reported its group net profit for the fiscal second quarter rose to 303.7 billion yen, or $2.6 billion, from 297.4 billion yen the same period a year ago.

Sales for the quarter rose 9 percent to 4.97 trillion yen, $42 billion, from 4.5 trillion yen.

The results put Toyota on pace to set a record net profit for the full fiscal year through March 2006 for the fourth straight year.