Hyundai-Kia now one of the top five manufacturers
6 Jul, 2008
31 Comments 
From an 11th place ranking in 1999, the Hyundai-Kia conglomerate has risen to become the fifth largest car manufacturer in the world.
According to Automotive News, the 2008 Global Data Book shows that the group has sold 3,961,629 cars, and now has risen above the likes of Honda, Nissan, and the PSA group.
“We are extremely proud of having achieved this goal in such a short period of time,” said Ik-Hwan Kim, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Kia Motors. “We have been stressing the value of our products over the last few years and our efforts have not gone unnoticed by the public or the industry, neither quantitatively or qualitatively.
“Kia will continue to focus on producing a new generation of quality vehicles with distinctive design to keep the momentum of our brand growing. As a top global automaker, we are set to move in new directions with continuous improvements in quality, design, eco-friendliness and brand innovation for years to come.”
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
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July 6th, 2008 at 5:47 am
I knew I was on a good thing with Hyundai years ago and is the only car make I now buy they will get bigger and bigger.It is only stupid australians who refuse to face the truth about how good this company is.Mazda not in the top 10 does that mean something ???? GO HYUNDAI
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 6:47 am
More proof that Hyundai are on the way up & Toyota should start to feel very worried by their latest ranking. You only to have a look at Hyundais current model lineup to see they are a quality manufacturer with the i30 a stand out.
Cheers !
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 6:49 am
GARRY
NOTHING to do with quality, these results are ranking by VOLUME produced.
Kia/Hyundai have very high sales volume in Korea, that helps.
I am more impressed by #8 and #10, figures that are europe sales, no o/s manufacture and little export volume.
Cheers
F-0
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 9:58 am
These 2007 sales figures certainly put a few things in perspective. Perhaps all the people who have been saying Hyundai will overtake Toyota soon will have to think twice before repeating their assertions. Hyundai would need to add Ford’s sales volume. VW would need to add 50%+. GM would need some product lines that could potentially ADD volume. Unless Ford ends up bankrupt and is bought out or merges with a cashed up asian or european manufacturer, its hard to see Toyota being toppled in 2008 either.
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 10:10 am
FrugalOne Toyota has a far bigger domestic market. 5 million cars are sold in Japan every year, and Toyota accounts for almost half of them. The Korea market in contrast is only as big as a qurter of the Japanese market which means Hyundai-Kia only sells at maximum 700,000 units per year. So when it comes to contribution from domestic markets to sales figure, Toyota should be put on the spot not this Korean manufacturer.
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Am I worried that I just bought a Golf GTI from the 10th ranked Aus purveyor – NO.
VW is the 3rd ranked on this list, and on a concerted push.
Currently above VW is GM, likely to implode at any time, and above that is Toyota with its declining reliability.
I didn’t buy a Toyota, for they have nothing at all that even remotely resembles the GTI, and I already have a toaster and fridge which excite me more than the Yaris or Corolla or Camry or Aurion or………you all get the picture:)
Most surprising to me is the position of Honda.
Kia-Hyundai will rank at the top with VW in maybe 5 years, because both are very active in fast growing markets, and both build interesting and varied models. VWs are very diverse from Touareg to EOS to Polo, all with sports models and a brilliant commercial range, the Koreans are more bargain basement but with flair, like the I30/C’eed, diesel sedans, good vans all at a lower price point than the VWs.
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Hyundai, in it’s expansion will not have to double sales to challenge the likes of Toyota. The amount of cars sold in any given period is reasonably stable, so if more Hyundai’s are sold, the will be drawing buyers from other Marquis. Thats less vehicles sold by their competition.
Vote:No doubt they will soon be looking to fill their portfolio by introducing a ute (like VW is about to. I’m guessing it will be a reasonably priced vehicle with good feature levels and will spell trouble for toyota. The big T has been synonymous with quality, but as many hyundai owners will attest, they are on the money with that too. Lots of toyota buyers will switch to better value offerings from hyundai in due course.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Cameron,
dont forget what toyota did to Kia’s very popular Van……..
toyota bought it out!!!!
every one was opting for the Pregio because it was available in a diesel, and needless to say, it was miles better value then the Hiace.
from what i was told, the Pregio was bought out by toyota.
you are right in that VW etc, dont have to double sales to make it to the top
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Anyone doubting the quality of the Korean offerings should take an i30 or Kia Sorento for a test drive. The turbo diesels are sweet.
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Reckless1 Says: July 6th, 2008 at 10:16 am
“Kia-Hyundai will rank at the top with VW in maybe 5 years, because both are very active in fast growing markets, and both build interesting and varied models. VWs are very diverse from Touareg to EOS to Polo, all with sports models and a brilliant commercial range, the Koreans are more bargain basement but with flair, like the I30/C’eed, diesel sedans, good vans all at a lower price point than the VWs”
NM response…..agree fully with that! The model range and turnover of more classy updates will be testament to that! For true proof of this; have a look at Kia Koupe sedan which is hot and classy as. The coupe version is a stunner totally and very well done. NOT BAD FOR A RELATIVE NEWCOMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The only way is up for the Hyundai / Kia alliance and VW are same as one needs no further proof of that then ute they made pinning it against the Toyota Hilux ute. I estimate maximum 4yrs and Toyota will be sliding down global sales total!
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Mazda’s total would be included in Ford’s, wouldn’t it?
Also, a Marquis is a nobleman, Cameron. A
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Golfie,
even though ford is the controlling stake in mazda, they cant count mazda sales as they own less than 50%.
that same rule is what saw GM have to exclude some of their other companies sales, hence giving toyota the sales lead for the first time
mazdas figure for 2007 was 1.3 million
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
“dont forget what toyota did to Kia’s very popular Van……..
toyota bought it out!!!! ”
Huh? I must have been asleep when that announcement was made.
My understanding was that the Pregio left our shores due to the diesel not meeting emissions levels any more, just like the Nissan and Toyota 4.2 diesels. And probably a few others as well.
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Interesting to contemplate the recently mooted GM Chrysler merger.
That would see GM at the top with 11.5 mill, well clear of the pack. Would be even more likely to implode, though :)
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
zool – no one is saying huyandai/kia dont make decent cars these days, they are good cars. but when you compare them to their european rivals they just arent as good.
its simply you get what you pay for, and the koreans are doing a great job of making good cars that are still cheap, pay more and get all the superior elements of a european car, pay less and you get a daewoo/holden that is still an okay car, but its obvious it was built around lowest cost possible.
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Ahh yes Golfschwein my Marquis was showing instead of Marque ty for pointing that out. I assumed the spelling was correct when it had no red spell check underline! So right spelling, wrong word. I must say I see typos constantly here. I just bite my tongue as it would appear I’m in a glass house :o).
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Congrats to Hyundai-Kia, from what I read/heard they follow the same business strategy/model as Toyota with more economy in mind so its only fair that they will bunnyhop those whom Toyota has.
Though Toyota also predicted Hyundai have been a growing threat because of this same business model they follow and their rise in the industry, and in years to come it will be a massive tug of war, especially when cars are starting to move away from petrol…
I will estimate in 3 years Kia-Hyundai will be 2nd place, especially if they build around economy.
These are exciting times!…
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
RECKLESS1-
Correct, the Pregio [of which i drove one for 12 months] did not meet emissions levels req.
Its still sold in some Asian countries, no longer made in Korea but in Malaysia.
It sold thanks to ONE reason….PRICE!
Cheers
F-0
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
The one thing with the Kia Pregio I still don’t quite understand is how the Kia K2700 with the same 2.7 diesel as the Pregio remained on the market after Jan 2006, while the Pregio was dropped for not meeting emissions regulations. The K2700 continued until the last few months when replace by a new 2.9 Turbo Diesel model. Go figure…
Vote:July 6th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
“With global sales of 3,961,629, Hyundai-Kia has shot up six places in just eight years, according to Automotive News’ 2008 Global Data Book published for days ago? WHAT? Oh my God. That’s a preety good thing. Congratulations boys. I’m not a big fan of Hyunday-Kia, but…anyway.
Vote:July 7th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Dlr1, it’s easy to understand.
The K277 is a truck, the Pregio a van.
Different class of vehicle, different emission regulations.
Vote:July 7th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Reckless1,
That would seem to be the case, however under Australian Design Rules both are in the same category. “Light Goods Vehicle under 3.5 tonne GVM” It doesn’t make any difference under these regulations whether its a van or cab chassis ect.
If the GVM of the K2700 was over 3.5 it would then be in a different class with different regulations, but its not. So that doesn’t explain why.
Vote:July 7th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Hows the resale value of a 3 year old Corolla compared to a 3 y/o Accent?
Man I’d love Toyota to sell fast/fun cars again.
Hell, another Collora with the 141Kw Celica engine would be an awsome start. I’d buy one.
As boring as Toyotas are, right now I’d still get a Collora over an i30 everytime.
Vote:When Hyundai get the build quality and resale values up to Toyota levels then I will consider buying one.
July 7th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Yes Skybreak and the Corolla is nearly double the price.
Down the road Hertz have ex rental Corollas with 30,000klms for 16k or less and they are immaculate and less than 18mnths old and current series.Approx 25k new.
If this is the case what would a punter get as a trade for a similiar Corolla? 12-13k?
Great resale Skybreak. toyota have always championed this resale thing but as u can see it is a fallacy.
If u are worried about resale don’t buy a new car.
Vote:Make doesn’t make a big difference these days despite what Toyota dealers would have u believe.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Realcars, ex rentals always sell at a “discount” compared to the rest of the market, so the average punter should achieve this as a minimum, probably more. And yes, you can only really compare resales as a percentage of their original price, not the actual dollar amounts. And generally corolla and mazda3 resales are at the top of their class. As for the i30, well time will tell, but it does look more promising than any previous small Hyundais.
Vote:July 7th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Realcars, yes you are correct, don’t always believe dealers – do your own homework and work out what is right for you.
A favourable opinion in the public could be due to good marketing as much as good engineering.
If Hyundai are now in the top 5 manufacturers they are obviously doing something right.
As for me, my personal experience with Toyota was very good, and my friends who owned Hyundai’s both had problems.
Vote:Maybe that was just the luck of the draw…
July 7th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
DLR1 if u think a dealer will give u a trade price equivalent to the price Hertz wants for an ex rental u are dreaming!!!
Hertz on sell the duds through action and only retail the top examples which are as good as any other used car in my opinion. these cars are pristine with 30klms or less.
Many near new cars at your local Toyota or Ford dealer ARE ex rental/fleet anyway although they will not tell u this.
The more u pay for a new car the more u will loose at trade in time regardless of make.
Vote:July 7th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Wow, I didn’t think Volkswagen was so high up in the list, I thought they would be about 6th on the list. I think if Volkswagen could increase their reliability to near Toyota’s/Honda’s/Subaru’s/Mazda’s standard then I think they have would then have a wining formula. As for Hyundai, if they continue to use german engineers and designers to help them along their way of world vehicle domination as well as inventing a unique Korean car design language to be more individual (which I think they are starting to now) then I think they just might topple Toyota within a decade.
Vote:July 8th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Ah yes, ex rental cars. Pristine, low km cars, well maintained, only driven by 300 different drivers in the last eighteen months. Yes I see your point, why pay the same for a well maintained one owner/driver vehicle when you can have something driven and respected by nobody.
And FYI, an ex gov or private late 06 or early 07 corolla auto hatch does bring around 16K at auction in Sydney at the moment. Yes, at auction, not retail, not ex rental!
Vote:July 8th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
As you know the fastest car in the world is a rental car.
Vote:July 30th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Didn’t realize this was an australian site but anyways hyundai is releasing the new hyundai genesis coupe in the US in early spring 2009. RWD, 300+ hp and under $30k. Very stylish and sleek.
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