Apple overtakes Google as world's most valuable brand: survey

NEW YORK —

U.S. electronics giant Apple Inc has overtaken Google Inc as the world’s most valuable brand, ending the U.S. search-engine behemoth’s four-year run at the top of the rankings, a survey released Monday by research firm Millward Brown Inc said.

Among Japanese companies on the list of the 100 most valuable global brands, Toyota Motor Corp returned to top spot among automakers at 27th place overall, rebounding from recall issues.

Apple’s brand value soared 84% from the previous year to $153.29 billion, the report said. Google was valued at $111.50 billion, followed by International Business Machines Corp, McDonald’s Corp, Microsoft Corp and Coca-Cola Co, all of the United States, it said.

U.S. online retailer Amazon.com Inc overtook compatriot Wal-Mart Stores Inc, becoming the most-valuable retail brand, it said.

Major social-networking site operator Facebook Inc of the United States entered the list for the first time at 35th.

Other entrants among Japanese companies were NTT Docomo Inc at 48th, Honda Motor Co at 56th, Nintendo Co at 79th, Sony Corp at 85th and Nissan Motor Co at 88th.

Twelve Chinese companies entered the list, including mobile telecommunications service provider China Mobile Ltd and search-engine firm Baidu Inc.

The ranking quantifies factors such as popularity and future potential of global company names and product names.