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The Korea Herald
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THE INVESTOR
March 29, 2024

Automobiles

Hyundai, Kia log weak US sales in 2018

  • PUBLISHED :January 04, 2019 - 09:34
  • UPDATED :January 04, 2019 - 09:34
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[THE INVESTOR] Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors posted sluggish sales in the US market in 2018 despite brisk demand for their SUVs, data showed on Dec. 4.

Hyundai sold 677,946 vehicles in America last year, down 1.1 percent from the previous year, according to the data from their US sales units.


The figure included sales of Genesis sedans or Hyundai’s luxury brand, which remained flaccid throughout the year.

Despite the overall drop, Hyundai’s US shipments rose 3.3 percent in December from a year ago, with SUV sales spiking 42 percent. 

Sales of Tucson SUV, subcompact SUV Kona and Ioniq electric vehicle were strong, but Sonata and Elantra sedans stayed weak.

In particular, sales of the Tucson soared 32 percent on-year in December, renewing monthly records for 22 months in a row. Hyundai also sold more than 8,000 Konas last month, up 39 percent from a year ago.

Kia sold 589,763 units in the world’s No. 2 auto market last year, up 0.1 percent from a year earlier.

Its US sales remained sluggish before chalking off a 10.2 percent on-year hike to 47,428 units in December.

SUVs led Kia’s sales in America with shipments of Sportage and Sorento rising 13.7 percent and 8.2 percent on-year, respectively.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)

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