In the first half of 2009, Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) and General Motors [GM.UL] remained the world's two biggest automakers despite a more than 20 percent drop in sales from the year earlier.

Third-ranked Volkswagen AG (VOWG.DE) closed the gap, gaining market share as sales fell just 5 percent. South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS), with affiliate Kia Motors Corp (000270.KS) surpassed Ford Motor Co (F.N) 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.

RANK COMPANY SALES PCT CHANGE

1) (1) Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) 3.564 mln -26
2) (2) General Motors Co [GM.UL] 3.553 mln -22
3) (3) *Volkswagen AG (VOWG.DE) 3.265 mln -5
4) (5) #Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) 2.153 mln -2
5) (4) **Ford Motor Co (F.N) 2.145 mln -33
6) (8) PSA Peugeot Citroen (PEUP.PA) 1.587 mln -14
7) (6) Honda Motor Co (7267.T) 1.586 mln -22
8) (7) Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) 1.546 mln -23
9) (10) Suzuki Motor Corp (7269.T) 1.15 mln -10
10) (9) Renault SA (RENA.PA) 1.107 mln -16.5

* Excludes Scania
** Ford publishes wholesale, not retail, figures

# with Kia Motors Corp

(Note: Figures are according to companies' own tally. General Motors includes vehicles made and sold by a minority-held Chinese joint venture.)

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