Hyundai, Kia set to grab over 10% of U.S. midsize sedan market

South Korea's top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. are on pace to see their combined share of the U.S. market for midsize sedans top 10 percent this year for the first time, an industry group said Friday.

The two automakers sold a total of 170,345 midsize vehicles in the United States in the first nine months of the year, taking up 13 percent of the market for cars with engines between 2.0 and 3.0 liters.

The figure represents a 36.9 percent increase from the same period last year, according to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA).

The automakers sold 124,405 midsize sedans in the January-September period of 2009, taking up 10.1 percent of the U.S. market, but their combined market share dropped to 9.6 percent by the end of the year as sales plunged in the fourth quarter.

The companies have so far enjoyed record sales in the U.S. this year but are again faced with a last-minute crisis.

Hyundai was forced late last month to voluntarily recall over 139,000 units of its leading midsize sedan Sonata YF in America due to a steering problem. Kia Motors also had to recall some 35,000 vehicles there earlier that month due to defective wiring in interior lighting that could cause fires.

The Sonata, however, recently received the highest mark in a new safety test by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, becoming one of only two vehicles out of 33 tested to be named the safest car.

Hyundai officials believe the test results will help maintain high U.S. demand for the vehicle.

"We believe the highest mark will help improve customer confidence in the safety of the Sonata as the vehicle was also named a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for High Safety in February," a company executive said earlier.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor said the Sonata YF received the first Middle East Motor Award at the International Motor Show Sharjah being held in the United Arab Emirates.

The Hyundai Sonata was named the best midsize saloon car of the year. The award was given to 13 other vehicles named the best car of the year in their category, the company said.