South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor ranked No. 1 on a list measuring carmakers’ corporate social responsibility activities in terms of the impact they had on the Chinese community, the company said Monday.

According to an index published by the CSR Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Hyundai topped the list for the fourth consecutive year. It also climbed up one notch to fourth place in a separate ranking that listed companies across industries.

The research institute studied 300 companies operating in China -- 100 state-run firms, 100 private companies and 100 foreign-invested companies -- to measure the effectiveness of CSR activities on the community, customers and environmental protection.

Since 2008, the South Korean auto giant has run the Hyundai Green Zone business to turn infertile deserts into grassland in China. Kia Motors’ joint venture company in China has also carried out home-building projects in earthquake-stricken and neglected areas across China.

In addition, Hyundai Motor Group operates educational facilities on traffic safety for kids, carries out preservation works for world heritage sites and offers children care services in rural areas, it said in a statement.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)