Ranking of top carmakers change

In the first half of 2009, Toyota and General Motors remained the world's two biggest carmakers despite a more than 20% drop in sales from the year earlier.

Third-ranked Volkswagen closed the gap, gaining market share as sales fell just 5%. South Korea's Hyundai Motor Corporation, with affiliate Kia Motors surpassed Ford to place fourth.

GM's first-half sales figure includes brands such as Saab and Pontiac that the bankrupt automaker is either in the process of selling or winding down.

Following is a list of the world's top 10 auto groups ranked by vehicle sales in the first half of 2009, with the previous ranking for all of 2008 in brackets.
1) (1) Toyota 3.564m -26%
2) (2) General Motors 3.553m -22%
3) (3) Volkswagen 3.265m -5%
4) (5) Hyundai 2.153m -2%
5) (4) Ford 2.145m -33%
6) (8) Peugeot Citroen 1.587m -14%
7) (6) Honda 1.586m -22%
8) (7) Nissan 1.546m -23%
9) (10) Suzuki 1.15m -10%
10) (9) Renault 1.107m -16.5%