Hyundai Motor Co. November 2003 Sales Up Vs Year Ago

SEOUL December 1, 2003; Dow Jones reported that Hyundai Motor Co. , South Korea's largest automaker, Monday said its sales rose 5.4% on year to 162,367 units in November, on the back of robust overseas sales.

Hyundai Motor sold 154,078 units in the year-ago period.

Domestic sales, however, declined 17.6% on year to 49,055 units last month on weak local consumer sentiment following LG Card Co.'s liquidity problems and seasonal factors.

Exports rose 19.9% to 113,312 units on steady sales growth in the U.S. and Europe, a company spokesman said.

Exports figures don't include production at overseas plants.

In November last year, the company's local sales stood at 59,540 units, while exports totaled 94,538 units.

During the first 11 months of the year, total sales dropped to 1.55 million units from 1.58 million units from a year earlier. Domestic sales fell 18.5% to 578,547 units, while exports rose 12.1% to 871,061 units.