The Hyundai-Kia motor conglomerate became the fourth largest automaker in the world in terms of sales and went past Ford during the first half of 2009.
Sales from Hyundai-Kia, owned by the same company in South Korea and therefore reporting as one company, reached 2 153 000 units in H1. Comparatively Ford sold 2 145 000 vehicles globally during the same period. This represents a drop of 30.6% for the blue oval over the same period in 2008. The Renault-Nissan alliance reports separately but if it did not it would be in fourth position instead of Hyundai-Kia. A slimmer General Motors will probably see a different sales picture come August 2010 as it reports for the first time in decades, fewer brands than Volkswagen. By then GM should only have Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC as its brands.
The top ten companies in sales all lost sales as the global credit crunch took shape. Most of them were down double digit percentages, including Toyota which lost 26% in sales. Volkswagen was the only company in the top 10 to lose in single digits after it sold 5.1% fewer vehicles, probably on the back of a successful Golf 6 launch worldwide.
Here are the Top 10 and their sales in H1:
Toyota (3 564 105)
General Motors (3 552 722)
Volkswagen (3 100 300)
Hyundai-Kia (2 153 000)
Ford (2 145 000)
PSA Peugeot Citroen (1 586 900)
Honda (1 586 000)
Nissan (1 545 976)
Suzuki (1 152 000)
Renault (1 106 989)
