Hyundai-Kia H1 China sales up 40% to 489,500 units

Shanghai, July 6 (Gasgoo.com) Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group sold a total of 489,500 vehicles in China in the first half of the year, up 39.9% from a year earlier, compared with the group's global sales of 2,753,600 (up) in the period, the First Financial Daily reported yesterday.

In June alone, Hyundai-Kia's vehicle sales in the Chinese market increase 16.2% year on year (y/y) to 79,086 units. All the sales in the first six months were achieved by the company's Chinese ventures, not including the imported Hyundai and Kia models sold in the Chinese market.

Last month, joint venture Beijing Hyundai sold 54,083 vehicles, up 14.2% y/y, and another Chinese venture Dongfeng Yue Kia sold 25,003 vehicles, up 19% y/y.

Hyundai-Kia Group aims to sell a combined 1 million units in China this year, up 23% from last year. Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors sold 570,309 and 241,386 units in China last year, respectively.

Hyundai Motor operates two auto production plants at its Chinese venture with local partner Beijing Auto, with an annual capacity of 600,000 cars and is considering building a third plant there.

Dongfeng Yueda Kia Automobile Co., a joint venture between Kia and its Chinese partners, Dongfeng Motor Corp. and Jiangsu Yueda Investment Co., rolled out its 1 millionth car on June 30.