Hyundai Motor and Kia reported mixed global sales results for July. While Hyundai's sales decreased due to weakened domestic and international demand and production disruptions, Kia continued its growth driven by strong sales of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids.
According to the automotive industry on August 3, Hyundai sold a total of 318,454 vehicles last month, comprising 48,113 units domestically and 270,341 units overseas. This represents a 5.1% decline compared to the same month last year, with domestic sales down 14.4% and overseas sales down 3.2%.
In the domestic market, sales of the Sonata (4,584 units) and Santa Fe (3,822 units) were particularly weak. Hyundai noted in its recent second-quarter earnings report that demand in the domestic and European markets has been further hampered by intensified competition.
In contrast, Kia reported total sales of 298,037 vehicles last month, including 54,604 units sold domestically and 242,556 units sold overseas, marking a 13.4% increase from the same period last year. Domestic sales rose by 21.3%, while overseas sales increased by 11.6%. Thanks to the expansion of EV and hybrid sales, Kia's global sales have now risen for five consecutive months.
The total global sales of the five major domestic automakers in July reached 670,191 units, a 3.5% increase compared to the same month last year, marking two consecutive months of growth. Korean GM sold a total of 42,119 vehicles, benefiting from strong exports of the Chevrolet Trax crossover and Trailblazer, which represented a 30.6% increase from the same period last year.
On the other hand, Renault Korea sold a total of 3,030 vehicles, a significant 58.2% decrease from last year. Domestic sales were 1,704 units, down 57.4%, while exports fell by 59.2% to 1,326 units. KG Mobility reported total sales of 8,551 units, an 11.1% decline from last year. Domestic sales dropped by 41.4% to 2,610 units, but overseas sales increased by 15.0% to 5,941 units.
In the domestic market, the Hyundai Grandeur topped the best-selling car list for the second consecutive month with 8,532 units sold, followed by the Kia Seltos (7,427 units), Carnival (6,917 units), Sorento (6,153 units), and Sportage (5,381 units).
* This article has been translated by AI.
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