HANOI, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Sixteen automobile firms in Vietnam sold a total of 80,392 vehicles last year -- the highest number since the first foreign-invested carmaker was established in the country 16 years ago, and almost reaching the Vietnamese government's target of 100,000 set for 2010, local newspaper Vietnam News reported Wednesday.

    The auto sales in 2007 represented a surge of 97 percent over 2006, the newspaper quoted the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) as reporting.

    Last year, Toyota Vietnam sold 20,113 vehicles, posting a year-on-year rise of 36 percent and making up 25 percent of the market share. Truck and bus maker Truong Hai, which specializes in producing South Korea's KIA models, came second with 11,534 units, up 115 percent and accounting for 14 percent of the market share.

    GM Daewoo ranked third with sales of 7,580 vehicles, up 364 percent and a market share of 9.4 percent. Chinese-invested truck maker Vinaxuki came fourth with 7,358, representing 9.2 percent of the market share.

    VAMA chairman Udo Loersch said he expected the car market to continue growth this year.