Beijing Hyundai launches i30 hatchback in China

Shanghai, September 10 (Gasgoo.com) Beijing Hyundai Motor Co, Hyundai's joint venture in China, officially launched the i30 small hatchback with 1.6- and 2-liter engines in China on Wednesday.

Lee Hyori, a popular South Korean singer and actress and Wilber Pan, a Taiwanese singer, were invited to hold a small concert at the launching ceremony held in Beijing Science&Technology University.

The Hyundai i30 small hatchback will sell at 99,800 yuan($14,615) to 141,800 yuan in Chinese market depending on different configurations. Noh Jae Man, Beijing Hyundai 's president, said the company is expecting to sell about 40,000 i30 cars annually.

Beijing Hyundai is completing its product portfolio in China to meet the fast growing demand in the country. On August 7 the venture launched Sonata moInca, which carries a dealer's price of 114,800 yuan to 139,800 yuan.

Hyundai Motor said Wednesday its sales in China in the January-August period rose 78.2% to 351,528 units from 197,320 units a year earlier. The South Korean auto maker raised its sales target for 2009 to more than 500,000 units, from its forecast at the start of the year of 360,000 units.