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SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp. posted their highest-ever quarterly sales in India, the world’s third-largest automobile market, during the first three months of 2025.
According to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the two companies sold a combined 229,126 vehicles in the first quarter, a 1.5 percent increase from the 225,686 units sold during the same period last year.
The growth reflects the companies’ sustained momentum in India, where combined annual sales have risen from 555,486 vehicles in 2019 to more than 850,000 units in recent years. In 2023, the two brands sold 857,111 vehicles, followed closely by 850,433 in 2024.
Hyundai captured a 13.0 percent market share in the first quarter, while Kia accounted for 6.4 percent, giving the group a combined 19.4 percent of the Indian auto market. Maruti Suzuki, the country’s dominant domestic carmaker, retained the top spot, followed by Hyundai in second place and Kia in sixth.
The sales surge has been largely driven by the popularity of sport utility vehicles, particularly models developed and marketed specifically for Indian consumers.
SUVs made up 80 percent of Hyundai and Kia’s combined sales, totaling 181,758 units. Hyundai’s Creta, a compact SUV first launched in 2015 and tailored to local preferences, led the pack with 48,449 units sold.
Other notable performers included Hyundai’s Venue (31,195 units) and Exter (17,330), as well as Kia’s Sonet (22,497) and Seltos (19,441). The recently introduced Syros, a compact SUV launched in February, also saw strong initial demand, recording 15,986 unit sales.
India has emerged as a critical market for global automakers, ranking third globally behind China and the United States. Hyundai has doubled down on its India strategy in recent years.
In 2023, it acquired General Motors’ Talegaon plant in Pune, Maharashtra, and plans to begin production there in the second half of 2025 with an annual capacity of 200,000 vehicles. Hyundai already operates a factory in Chennai, while Kia manufactures from its facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.
The companies have also expanded their footprint through local partnerships and strategic initiatives.
Last October, Hyundai listed its Indian subsidiary on the Indian securities market — the automaker’s first overseas public offering. In December, Hyundai and Kia signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology to establish the Hyundai Innovation Center, aimed at fostering mobility solutions tailored for Indian consumers.
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