Each year Newsweek publishes its Global 500 list ranking global corporations based on financial strength (growth areas) and corporate social responsibility (trust areas), taking into consideration corporate governance and other factors. This year’s edition listed Nissan as the top automobile manufacturer, ahead of Toyota, which was second.

Conducted for the fifth year, this survey examines the top 1000 corporations based on global sales and considers financial strength (growth sector) using Standard & Poor’s and the UK’s CSR rating agency Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS) to evaluate corporate social responsibility, taking into consideration corporate governance and other factors (trust sector). A comprehensive evaluation of both is the formulation for the selection of the top global 500.

Nissan was ranked 47th out of 1000 global corporations, up from the 66th place it took in 2007 as the number 2 automobile manufacturer and the 86th place it got in 2006 as the number 3 automobile manufacturer. This steady climb has now placed Nissan amongst the top 50 global corporations. This year’s survey placed Toyota in 70th place, with Renault at 262nd and Honda at 282nd

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