The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Hyundai, Kia sales in U.S. grow in January

By Korea Herald

Published : Feb. 4, 2014 - 19:54

    • Link copied

Hyundai Motor Group, the world’s fifth-largest automotive conglomerate, said Monday that its U.S. sales got off to a good start in January thanks to demand for its compact cars and sport utility vehicles.

Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America, the distribution and marketing arms of the group’s flagship companies, said sales were up 1 percent and 2 percent, respectively, in the one month period, compared with a year earlier. The growth in sales numbers are in contrast to the 0.3 percent dip in sales for Hyundai cars sold in South Korea and around the world last month. Kia sales were also down 1.3 percent on-year in January.

HMA said it sold 44,005 units last month, the best sales figures for January since the South Korean carmaker started selling vehicles in the United States in 1986.

Of the total, sales of the Elantra compact, which has recently been revamped, hit 15,326 units, up a sharp 25.9 percent from the previous year’s tally of 12,174 vehicles.

The popular Santa Fe SUV, sold in both the “Sport” and long-wheel-base models, did well with sales climbing 12.2 percent to 6,721 units.

On the downside, sales of Hyundai’s bread-and-butter Sonata midsize car fell to below the 10,000 unit norm to 9,815 units.

The carmaker said the dip in sales may be a reflection of consumers waiting to see the seventh-generation Sonata, which will make its global debut at the New York International Auto Show in April.

Kia America said its sales hit 37,011 vehicles, with its boxy Soul and Forte compact sedan contributing to better figures.

The Soul and the Forte are all-new models introduced by the carmaker that have received positive publicity in recent months.

Sales of the Soul grew 9.6 percent on-year to 8,092 units, with the Forte’s numbers rising 7.2 percent to 4,724.

Like its bigger sibling, Kia said sales of the Optima midsize sedan, which shares the same basic architecture as the Hyundai Sonata, fell 11.3 percent to 9,979 units. HMA and Kia America have both said that they plan to strive to build up their “quality” image in the new year.

Hyundai said it will introduce its second-generation Genesis sedan in the U.S. this spring, which could greatly bolster its consumer perception as a brand that makes quality cars, while Kia is expected to launch the K900 luxury sedan, which can elevate its name in the market. (Yonhap)