Has Hyundai Passed Ford?

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

After Hyundai delivered a record profit of $4.7 billion yesterday, smaller sibling Kia announced its results today. The Kia’s 2010 net profits rose 55 percent to approximately $2 billion. Some analysts expected more, but the fourth quarter had only a rise of 4.6 percent.

Kia adds another 2,131,531 units to the combined Hyundai/Kia grand total, which now (according to our unofficial TTAC calculations) stands at 5,744,018 units. Where does that leave Ford?

Last year, Ford reported to OICA a global total of 4,685,394 units. The Hyundai/Kia conglomerate was hot on Ford’s heels with 4,645,776 units. This made Ford in the world’s 4th largest automaker, Hyundai/Kia took 5th.

Today, Ford will announce results for 2010. Analysts expect $8 billion for 2010. But will Ford’s global production have risen enough to keep the Hyundai/Kia juggernaut in its 5th place? We should know more by the end of the day.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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