Hyundai edges out Ford as 4th biggest carmaker

South Korea's Hyundai Motor Company edged out Ford to become the fourth biggest automaker in the world, with 2,153-million units sold in the first half of the year.  

Hyundai also reached 5% global market share in the first half of the year for the first time ever, amid a 15% decline in global automobile demand compared with last year.

Th company achieved this by growing its market share in developed countries, such as the US, China and Europe.

In China, Hyundai sold 257 000 units in the first half of 2009, which was a 56% increase from a year earlier, aided mainly by its China-exclusive models.

Hyundai’s total exports to Africa also reached one-million units recently, of which Hyundai Automotive South Africa had contributed a 20% share.

Hyundai achieved this number over a period of 33 years, following the first export of 26 Pony units, its first own model, to Liberia in 1976.

It took Hyundai 29 years – 2005 – to pass the 500 000 unit export milestone, achieving the second half-a-million in the four years to 2009.

Hyundai launched its first hybrid electric vehicle, the Elantra LPI hybrid, this month.

The company announced that it expected to raise profitability in the second half of this year, through the introducing of the new Sonata and Tucson models.

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RANK*   COMPANY           SALES                                   CHANGE
1. Toyota                             3,564-million units               – 26%
2. General Motors             3,553-million units               – 22%
3. Volkswagen                   3,265-million units               – 5%
4. Hyundai                          2,153-million units               – 2%
5. Ford                                 2,145-million units               – 33%
6. PSA Peugeot Citroen   1,587-million units               – 14%
7. Honda                             1,586-million units               – 22%
8. Nissan                            1,546-million units               – 23%
9. Suzuki                             1,15-million units                  – 10%
10. Renault                        1,107-million units                – 16,5%

*Ranking of world’s top 10 auto groups by first half 2009 sales – Reuters UK