Monthly sales of Hyundai Sonata hit 13-year record

The Hyundai Sonata was the most popular car in Korea in October. The nation's largest carmaker sold more than 21,700 Sonatas, including 3,795 previous generation models, in the domestic market last month, the first time monthly sales of the mid-size sedan have topped 20,000 in 13 years. Hyundai sold 23,745 units of the second-generation Sonata in December 1995 and 23,217 units of the third-generation model in December 1996.

The carmaker unveiled the newest version of the Sonata (Sonata YF) in September, and customers have responded strongly to its design and quality. Sales were also helped by the government's tax breaks for new car purchases.

Demand has been so strong that Hyundai cannot keep up. "Some 51,000 people who ordered the Sonata YF are waiting to receive their cars," a Hyundai Motor official said. "Meeting the demand by the end of this year is impossible even though our plants are operating at the full capacity of 17,000 units a month."

The combined domestic sales of the nation's five carmakers -- Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, GM Daewoo, Renault Samsung and Ssangyong Motor -- totaled 130,851 units in October, up 24 percent from the same month last year, but a 5.3 percent decrease from the previous month.

The second most popular car was the Kia Morning with more than 8,900 units sold in October. It has topped the list of the best-selling compact cars for 20 consecutive months. GM Daewoo saw sales of its upgraded Matiz dwindle 20 percent from September to 5,650 cars in October.

Hyundai Motor captured a 50.8 percent share of the domestic auto market by selling 66,458 cars. Next came Kia Motors with a 27.5 percent share, trailed by GM Daewoo with 10 percent, Renault Samsung with 9.6 percent and Ssangyong with 2.1 percent.

Meanwhile, Renault Samsung's overall sales, including exports, hit a monthly record high in October. Ssangyong saw its domestic sales reach an annual record high last month.