SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s biggest carmaker, Hyundai Motor, reported Wednesday that its sales had dropped from the same month the previous year due to weak domestic purchases.
The company declared that it had sold 357,151 vehicles in September, a decrease from 357,555 units in the previous year. Domestic sales dropped 5.3 percent to 53,911 from 56,910, whereas overseas sales increased 0.9 percent to 303,240 from 300,645.
Hyundai plans to concentrate on high-end models and stimulate sales of those models in global markets by launching the totally changed Santa Fe SUV and electric models, such as the high-performance Ioniq 5 N model.
“The company will cope with uncertain business environments by adjusting production and improving its product mix with emphasis on high-end models in global markets,” the statement said.
Hyundai intends to launch the N brand’s first EV model, the Ioniq 5 N, in the domestic market later this year and in global markets next year. The N models are meant to bring full performance capability to everyday driving.
From January to September, its sales rose 7.7 percent to 3,127,001 autos from 2,904,051 during the same period last year. Domestic sales jumped 13 percent to 563,519 autos in the first nine months from 496,835 units a year earlier. Its overseas sales were up 6.5 percent to 2,563,482 from 2,407,216 during the same period.
This file photo provided by Hyundai Motor shows the Ioniq 5 N. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
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