The South Korean company sold over 3.9 million vehicles last year, placing it fifth in the bestsellers list ahead of Honda.

The new ranking means Hyundai-Kia has shot up six places in eight years after being placed eleventh in 1999. Toyota was the world’s top-selling carmaker in 2007, according to the new Automotive News 2008 Global Data book. The Japanese brand sold 9.36 million vehicles, placing it ahead of General Motors, which sold 8.9 million units. Volkswagen came third after recording 6.2 million sales and Ford was in fourth position with nearly 6 million units sold. The remaining four places in the top ten were taken by Nissan, the PSA Group, Chrysler and Fiat.