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.
