iMax Leads +62% Hyundai Growth in April

SYDNEY – May 5, 2010: Hyundai’s multi-award winning iMax range has continued to win fans, ranking first in the people mover segment with a sales result of 277 units and achieving a best ever monthly market share of 23.9%, since launching in Australia in February 2008.

Hyundai also posted its best ever April result since the factory established the wholly owned subsidiary Hyundai Motor Company Australia. The sales result of 6,725 units was also Hyundai’s second best April sales result since the brand started selling cars in Australia in 1986.

In a total market that has increased +27.3% (April 2010 v. April 2009), Hyundai Motor Company Australia has achieved an overall increase in sales of +62.6% (representing 16 consecutive months of month-on-month sales growth).

“The team at Hyundai and the Hyundai Dealer network are really pleased with the increasing levels of interest in the Hyundai i-series of vehicles,” said Damien Meredith, Hyundai’s Director of Sales. “Later this month we will launch the all-new i45 mid-sized sedan which is breaking records in South Korea and the U.S., followed by the exciting new i20 compact hatch which will be very competitive in its segment.”

Meanwhile overseas, Hyundai Motor Company’s global sales increased +27.6% (April 2010 v. April 2009). Hyundai Motor America posted its best ever April result as early consumer response to the company’s all-new i45 and ix35 models shattered all expectations. Total U.S. sales through the first four months of 2010 also represent an all-time record for Hyundai. In April, the company sold 44,023 vehicles, up +30% (April 2010 v. April 2009). Based on retail-only sales data, the new i45 sedan – known as Sonata in North America - emerged as America’s third best-selling mid-size sedan for the second month in a row.

Hyundai’s Australian highlights include

Hyundai’s result in April of 6,725 units (8.3% share) represents a +62.6% volume increase over its achievement of 4,136 units (6.5% share) in April 2009.

Getz ranked first in the light car segment achieving 2,192 vehicle sales and a 20% market share.

iMax ranked first in the people mover segment, after posting a sales result of 277 units and market share of 23.9%, its best ever market share.

The all-new ix35 compact SUV achieved 580 units.

In the SUV medium segment, Santa Fe posted its best ever sales result of 521 units, since the model first came to Australia in 2000.

iLoad ranked second in the van segment after posting a sales result of 447 units and a 25.4% market share.

Hyundai’s global April 2010 highlights include

Hyundai’s South Korean domestic sales rose +16.9%% to 55,339 units in April from 47,339 units a year earlier, aided by two all new models, ix35 compact SUV and the all-new i45 mid-sized sedan.

In South Korea last month the all-new i45 mid-sized sedan, which went on sale in September 2009, sold 11,138 units.

Total overseas sales, including both exports from South Korea and sales from overseas plants, rose by +30.1% to 255,057 units in April, up from 196,004 units a year earlier.

Exports were up +43.6% in April as compared to a year earlier.

Sales from overseas plants rose 22.5% percent to 153,613 units, led by China, India and The Czech Republic.

Hyundai’s global April YTD 2010 highlights include

Hyundai’s South Korean domestic sales rose +26.4% to 223,369 units April YTD from 176,697 units a year earlier.

Total overseas sales, including both exports from South Korea and sales from overseas plants, rose by +35.9% to 929,156 units April YTD, up from 683,883 units a year earlier.

Exports were up +28.5% April YTD as compared to a year earlier.

Sales from overseas plants rose +40.3% percent to 597,996 units.