Top 10 Car Makers of the World of 2009

Here is the list of the world's top ten car makers of 2009. The list is compiled by the Automotive News Data Center as per the global units sales in the first half of 2009.

Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation is the world's largest car manufacturer. It has sold 3,564,105 units in the first half of 2009 compared to 4,815,442 units in the first half of 2008.

General Motors is the second largest car maker of the world. General Motors was world's number one car company for consecutive 77 years from 1931 to 2007. General Motors sold 3,552,722 units compared to last year's 4,541,125 units.

The Volkswagen Group is the third largest car maker of 2009. It sold 3,100.300 units this year compared to 3,265,200 units of previous year's.

Hyundai-Kia has edged out Ford and became the world's fourth largest car manufacturer. It showed global sales for the first half of 2009 at 2,153,000 units.

Ford Motor Company was is world's fifth largest car maker with 2,145,000 units of global sales. This year, Ford was knock down from the fourth position. Ford fell from second to third ranked car m for the first time in 56 years, behind only General Motors and Toyota.

PSA Peugeot-Citroen sold 1,586,900 units in 2009. Last year it showed a sale of 1,844,700 units. PSA Peugeot-Citroen is world's sixth largest car manufacturer.

The Honda Motor Company secures the seventh place with sales units of 1,586,000 compared to last year's 2,022,00 units. It became Japan's second largest car maker in 2001 by superseding Nissan.

Nissan Motors is in the eight position with 1,545,976 units. Last year it sold 2,013,611 units in the first half. It is among the top three Asian car companies.

Suzuki Motor Corporation is the ninth largest car manufacturer in the world. Maruti Suzuki, the Indian arm of the Japanese car company is India's largest car manufacturer. Suzuki Motor Corporation sold 1.152,000 units this year compared to 2008's 1,283,000 units.

Renault is the world's tenth largest car maker with 1,106,989 units this year. Last year, it sold 1,326,164 units. Renault has joined hands with Nissan on March 27, 1999.The Nissan-Renault Alliance is world's fourth largest car maker if their individual units were taken together. Nissan-Renault Alliance sold 2,652,965 units this year.