Hyundai, Kia see U.S. sales drop 11 pct in March

WASHINGTON, April 3 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate, Kia Motors Corp., saw their combined sales in the United States drop 11 percent in March as sales of some best-selling models slumped, industry data showed Monday.

The two South Korean auto giants sold a combined 118,694 units in the U.S. last month, down from 133,589 units sold in the same period last year, according to company data. Kia's sales suffered a 15 percent fall while Hyundai's dropped 8 percent, the data.

Kia's sales totaled 49,429 units in March, down from last year's 58,279. All models suffered falls, but some of the best-selling ones saw bigger drops, such as the boxcar Soul and minivan Sedona, whose sales fell 30 percent and 35 percent, respectively.

Sales of the Sorento and Sportage sport utility vehicles also fell 22 percent and 18 percent, respectively.

Hyundai's total sales fell to 69,265 units from last year's 75,310, led by a 47 percent drop in the Sonata sedan.

But the fall was offset in large part by the big jumps in the sales of the Santa Fe and Tucson sport utility vehicles, which rose 75 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

jschang@yna.co.kr
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