Hyundai says North American car sales rose 24% in January

RP news wires
Tags: manufacturing

Hyundai Motor America on February 2 announced January sales of 30,503 units, up 24 percent vs. January 2009. This marks the 13th consecutive month of year-over-year retail market share gains for Hyundai and our best retail share performance since the government's "Cash-for-Clunkers" program in August 2009.

"While we were surprised and disappointed in the overall weakness of the industry in January, we are encouraged by our strong performance at both ends of the market spectrum. Our fuel-efficient Accent and Elantra entries were up 61 and 133 percent respectively, while our flagship Genesis recorded its best-ever retail segment share," said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's vice president of national sales. "In addition, we are exceptionally well poised for the first quarter of 2010. The red-hot and completely redesigned 2010 Tucson hit dealer lots in January and recorded a 128 percent sales increase in its first month. Vehicle availability is rapidly improving to meet overwhelming consumer demand and, at the same time, we are introducing the all-new, game-changing Sonata to our expanding product lineup this week. Both vehicles deliver striking styling and an unprecedented combination of quality, performance and fuel economy at a very affordable price. We fully expect both vehicles to significantly bolster our sales momentum throughout 2010."

Sonata and Tucson represent the first two vehicles in a wave of new model launches which will introduce seven new models in a 24 month period. This new product blitz from Hyundai, called "24/7 Version 2.0" will usher in a new era of modern design for the Hyundai brand, while retaining its strong heritage of quality, safety, fuel efficiency, and value.

In January, Hyundai Assurance was also extended and enhanced for 2010. The trend-setting program, initiated in 2009, includes a vehicle return option for new-car buyers and is the most comprehensive consumer safety net for new-car buyers in the industry.

CARLINE       JAN/2009     JAN/2010     CY/2009     CY/2010
  -------       --------     --------     -------     -------
  ACCENT           3,560        5,747       3,560       5,747
  ------            ----         ----       -----       -----
  SONATA           8,508        5,306       8,508       5,306
  ------           -----        -----       -----       -----
  ELANTRA          3,307        7,690       3,307       7,690
  -------          -----        -----       -----       -----
  TIBURON            390            0         390           0
  -------            ---          ---         ---         ---
  SANTA FE         5,024        7,204       5,024       7,204
  --------         -----        -----       -----       -----
  AZERA              294          269         294         269
  -----              ---          ---         ---         ---
  TUCSON             974        2,216         974       2,216
  ------             ---        -----         ---       -----
  ENTOURAGE          222            0         222           0
  ---------          ---          ---         ---         ---
  VERACRUZ         1,177          401       1,177         401
  --------         -----          ---       -----         ---
  GENESIS          1,056        1,670       1,056       1,670
  -------          -----        -----       -----       -----
  TOTAL           24,512       30,503      24,512      30,503
  -----           ------       ------      ------      ------