Hyundai-Kia is world’s fifth largest automaker

The Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group has emerged as the world's fifth largest automaker with global sales of 3,961,629 units in 2007, moving up from sixth place in 2006, according to Automotive News' 2008 Global Market Data Book, says a release.

While quantitative growth has been an important objective in the past for the group, the company’s efforts are now focused on qualitative growth in terms of continuous improvement in corporate social responsibility, profitability, technological innovation and brand power. Hyundai-Kia has the momentum to keep on growing.

The group has seen remarkable growth in the four decades since Hyundai Motor Co was founded. It ranked as the world's eleventh largest automaker in 1999, the year Hyundai-Kia Chairman Chung Mong-Koo took over the helm as the CEO.

Counting the export sales of 185,114 complete knock-down kits which are assembled by overseas partners, the group's 2007 global sales reached 4,146,743 units. Automotive News’ methodology excludes CKD sales.


2007 Global sales rankings
Unit sales
Toyota Motor Corp.
9,366,000
General Motors
8,902,252
Volkswagen AG
6,191,618
Ford Motor Co.
5,964,000
Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group
3,961,629
Honda Motor Co. Ltd.
3,831,000
Nissan Motor Co.
3,675,574
PSA/Peugeot-Citroen SA
3,428,400
Chrysler LLC
2,676,268
Fiat S.p.A.
2,620,864