The Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group outpaced Toyota to rank fourth in the global market in the first half of this year. Although this had happened on a national or regional level before, it is the first time for the Korean automaker to achieve the feat worldwide.

Hyundai and Kia sold a combined 3.19 million vehicles worldwide in the six months period, 180,000 more than Toyota.

General Motors led the market with sales of 4.64 million cars, followed by Volkswagen with 4.09 million and Renault-Nissan with 3.43 million.

Toyota's fall is attributable to reduced output in the aftermath of the massive earthquake in Japan in March. Its output decreased by 1.24 million from the same period last year.