Samsung Electronics Co., a South Korean tech giant and the world's largest chipmaker, ranked seventh among the most valuable companies by brand value this year, according to the global brand consultancy Interbrand's Best 100 Global Brands report Thursday. 

Samsung Electronics' brand value rose 14.8 percent to US$45.5 billion this year compared to a year ago, double the average growth rate of the top 100 global brands. Its U.S. archrival Apple was valued at $118.9 billion, becoming No. 1 for the second straight year. 

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's top automaker, saw its brand value surge 16 percent this year from a year earlier to $10.4 billion to rank 40th, Interbrand report said. 

In the auto sector, Hyundai Motor moved up one step to surpass Germany's Audi to take seventh place, Interbrand said. Japan's Toyota extended its lead as the most valuable auto brand in the world, followed by German automobile manufacturers Mercedes-Benz and BMW. 

Hyundai Motor was included in the Best 100 Global Brands for the tenth consecutive year, after entering the list at 84th place and moving up to become one of the fastest growing automotive companies by brand value.

Hyundai's smaller affiliate, Kia Motors, was valued at $53.9 billion to take 74th place, up from 83rd last year. Kia's brand value has jumped 480 percent from $900 million in 2007, the consultancy said. (Yonhap)