Last year, the total sales of five domestic automobile companies decreased compared to the previous year. Analysts suggest that the overall sales performance declined as Hyundai Motor Company, which holds the largest share in the domestic market, saw a decrease in sales. However, Kia recorded a slight increase in sales compared to the previous year, setting a record for the highest sales in history.
According to the automobile industry on the 3rd, the combined sales of five domestic automakers, including Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, GM Korea, Renault Korea, and KG Mobility, reached 7,947,110 units last year. This figure represents a 0.6% decrease from the 7,992,536 units recorded in 2023.
Hyundai Motor Company's total global sales fell by 1.8% year-on-year to 4,141,791 units. Domestic sales dropped to 705,010 units, down 7.5%, while international sales decreased by 0.8% to 3,436,781 units.
Hyundai Motor Company sold a total of 190,858 sedans in the domestic market. Recreational vehicles (RVs) saw sales of 245,241 units. Small commercial vehicles, including Porter and Staria, totaled 111,373 units, while large vehicles, including buses and trucks, accounted for 26,864 units. The premium brand Genesis sold 130,674 units.
Despite the ongoing electric vehicle chasm (temporary slowdown in demand) overseas, the expansion of hybrid models led to strong sales in the North American market, maintaining overall sales levels slightly lower than in 2023.
An official at Hyundai Motor Company noted, "We will strengthen the sales base for eco-friendly vehicles, including hybrid cars, and increase production locally in North America to improve performance." Hyundai Motor Company has set a goal to sell a total of 4,174,000 units this year, including 710,000 in the domestic market and 3,464,000 overseas.
Kia sold 3,089,457 units in the global market, reflecting a 0.1% increase compared to the previous year. This figure is the highest since the company began selling cars in 1962. Domestic sales totaled 540,010 units, a decrease of 4.2% compared to the previous year, while overseas sales increased by 1% to 2,543,361 units.
The model most sold by Kia in the global market was the Sportage, with 587,717 units sold. The Seltos followed with 312,246 units, while the Sorento sold 280,705 units. The best-selling model in the domestic market was the Sorento, with 94,538 units sold. The Carnival ranked second in domestic sales with 82,748 units, while the Sportage ranked third with 74,255 units.
Kia aims to sell a total of 3,216,200 units this year, including 550,000 in the domestic market, 2,658,000 overseas, and 8,200 special units.
GM Korea also demonstrated strong performance last year. GM Korea's total sales, including domestic and exports, reached 499,559 units, a 6.7% increase from the previous year. This marks the highest figure since 2017.
GM Korea's overseas sales reached 474,735 units last year, a 10.6% increase compared to the previous year. Specifically, the Chevrolet Trax crossover and Trailblazer sold 295,883 units and 178,852 units, respectively, driving an improvement in sales performance. However, domestic sales plunged 35.9% to 24,824 units.
Renault Korea's sales increased by 2.6% compared to the previous year, totaling 106,939 units. Domestic sales reached 39,816 units, a significant 80.6% increase due to the new model effect of the mid-sized SUV, the Grand Koleos, which was introduced last year. In contrast, exports decreased by 18.4% to 67,123 units.
KG Mobility's exports increased by 18.2% to 8,147 units, while domestic sales fell by 25.7% to 2,540 units, resulting in an overall sales decrease of 5.7% to 10,687 units compared to the previous year. A KG Mobility official noted, "This year, we will launch new models such as the Torres Hybrid and O100 to improve domestic sales performance."