Vehicle sales by Hyundai, Kia exceed 30 million

SEOUL, June 6 (Yonhap) -- Cumulative vehicle sales by Hyundai Motor Group exceeded 30 million in 54 years after it entered the car-making business, the automotive conglomerate said Monday.

Since entering the market in 1962, Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. sold a combined 30.03 million units -- 18.46 million by Hyundai and 11.57 million for Kia. The sister companies together form the fifth-biggest car-making group in the world.

Their collective sales hit 10 million in 1996 and 20 million in 2007, and finally hit the 30-million mark last month.

By model, the midsize Sonata sedan was the best seller with accumulated sales of 3.3 million units over 32 years from 1985 onwards, followed by the Avante compact with sales reaching 2.76 million during its 27 years in production from 1990.

Besides these two popular models, the large Grandeur full-size sedan reported sales of 1.46 million over 31 years from 1986, while the Pride subcompat posted sales topping 1.1 million since 1987, the group said.

The top three best sellers -- Sonata, Avante and Grandeur -- were all from Hyundai Motor with the Pride made by Kia. Avante and Grandeur have been sold as Elantra and Azera in overseas markets such as the United States.

This year, Hyundai and Kia aim to sell 8.13 million autos, slightly up from 8.02 million they sold last year.

kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
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