Awards for Hyundai's 'i' Generation Drive Record Sales

NORTH RYDE, AUSTRALIA – April 3, 2009: The multi-award winning ‘i’ generation of Hyundai vehicles is driving market growth in Australia.

Hyundai was the only volume brand to post a sales increase in the first quarter of 2009 compared with the same period last year. Market share for the first quarter 2009 was 6.0% with 12,759 cars sold. This is the best first quarter volume result since 1997.

In March, the multi-award winning i30 range ranked third in the Small segment with an 8.9% market share after posting its best ever sales result of 1,503 cars (including a record 1,331 i30 hatches). The iLoad van range, Delivery Magazine’s ‘Best Medium Van 2008’ ranked third in the van segment, achieving 192 sales and the iMax 8 seat shuttle, Australia’s Best Cars ‘Best People Mover 2008’ ranked 5th in its segment.

With 4,907 vehicles sold, Hyundai achieved a 6.5% market share in March, the brand’s highest monthly market share result since December 2001, the best March sales result since 1999 and a record month since the factory owned subsidiary was set-up in late 2003. Hyundai Motor Company Australia ranked fifth in the passenger car market with an 8.3% market share (the highest passenger car market share since December 2001).

“We have seen continued growth in a difficult market while other manufacturers from around the world, including Japanese and all other Korean-sourced products, have seen decline,” commented Kevin McCann, Director of Sales and Marketing. “Everyone of our ‘i’ generation products has won awards in Australia and this local recognition is attracting a wider range of savvy consumers to the Hyundai brand.”