9:44 am, July 2, 2008
HYUNDAI-KIA has achieved what it’s threatened to do for some time now – become the fifth-largest car maker in the world.
The Korean giant today sits above Honda, Nissan and Peugeot-Citroen, with 2007 sales of just under four million cars.
Quite a jump from its 11th place back in 1999; the Group also dwarfs Chrysler and Fiat Group – though it is still some way behind Ford. An extra two million sales will be needed to capture fourth-spot.
Elsewhere in the chart, Toyota remains world leader, with global sales of well over nine million cars. GM is second, with just under nine million, with Volkswagen Group boasting 6.1 million sales.
As for Hyundai-Kia, let’s not underplay its achievement. The Group stated it wanted the top-five slot by 2010. That it’s achieved it so early shows it has the means to achieve such heady aspirations. The top four may well be looking over their shoulder…
2007 Global Sales Rankings
1. Toyota – 9,366,000
2. GM – 8,902,252
3. Volkswagen – 6,191,618
4. Ford – 5,964,000
5. Hyundai-Kia – 3,961,629
6. Honda – 3,831,000
7. Nissan – 3,675,574
8. PSA/Peugeot – 3,428,400
9. Chrysler – 2,676,268
10. Fiat – 2,620,864
