Hyundai first half sales up 3.7 percent year on year

Hyundai sold 1,296,694 units worldwide during the first six months of this year, an improvement of 3.7 percent over the same period last year. Domestic sales of Hyundai vehicles rose by 8.3 percent during the period to 304,283 units while export sales were up 2.4 percent to 992,411 units.

Worldwide sales for the month of June slipped by 1.8 percent to 227,533 units compared to the previous month despite a 5.5 percent gain (equivalent to 56,527 units) in domestic sales. Domestic demand was particularly strong for the Sonata and Santa Fe with 11.3 and 21.15 percent m-o-m growth respectively.

Export sales in June shrank by 4.0 percent over May to 171,006 units. Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor America recorded its best sales month on record with 49,368 vehicles sold during June. Hyundai Motor America’s June sales were up 12 percent m-o-m and 11 percent over last June on the strength of the growing Hyundai model line up.

Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Co. has grown into the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group which was ranked as the world’s sixth largest automaker in 2006 and includes over two dozen auto-related subsidiaries and affiliates. Employing over 68,000 people worldwide, Hyundai Motor posted US$29.4 billion in sales in 2006 (on a non-consolidated basis, [US$68.4 billion consolidated]). Hyundai vehicles are sold in 193 countries through some 5000 dealerships and showrooms. Further information about Hyundai Motor Co. and its products is available at hyundai-motor.com.