Hyundai, Kia sales on the rise
November 16, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Hyundai-Kia continues to lead the way out of the world economic and automotive downturn, surging ahead this year with record sales, trend-defying profits and infrastructural expansion.
In the first six months of 2009, Hyundai overtook Ford in fourth place in global sales.
In the third quarter, Hyundai’s net profit of AUD$908 million equalled the combined earnings of Toyota and Honda – its shares soaring 50 per cent compared to Toyota’s three per cent decline.
And last month South Korea signed more than 40 free trade agreements with the EU, giving them easier access to the European market at a time when its small, fuel efficient vehicles are in increasing demand.
The trend is matched in Australia where Hyundai’s October sales rocketed by more than 100 per cent month-on-month to reach 6281, while a year-to-date increase of 42 per cent over 2008 is unmatched across the industry.
After hitting a 20-year low against the Japanese yen in February, the Korean won has since increased by 27 per cent, aiding the company’s successes.
Japanese brands Toyota, Honda and Nissan responded to the strengthening of the yen against the US dollar by shifting production overseas, cutting exports in the middle two quarters by 43 per cent to 64 per cent in total.
Hyundai is similarly trying to establish itself as a global manufacturer with plants in Russia and Brazil on the way, adding to those already in the US, India, China, Turkey and the Czech Republic.
By Tim Beissmann (with Automotive News)
Print it: 
Give Hyundai another 10 years, I have no doubt they will be knocking on Toyota’s door to move out the way.
This is exactly Hyundai’s intent, but they have no interest in waiting 10 years to achieve it. Toyota know that beating the japanese at there own game is a powerful driving force at Hyundai and Toyota’s management is suitably concerned.
Currently Toyota is safe in several feilds, especially in the serious four wheel drive market. There is no Hyundai 70 series work ute or hilux competitor in sight.
Hyundai and Kia just cannibalise their sales, they should just have the 1 brand (which uses the Kia designers) and they could easily be Top 3 within the next decade.
I would have to agree – styling wise Kia’s are looking alot better then Hyundai’s recently.
Don’t agree D. If let’s say Hyundai wasnt in the market, your assumption is that people would just buy the Kia instead. Are you forgetting how competitive the car market is for the class of vehicles which Hyundai & Kia sell in? The customer may go off and buy a Toyota. instead.
Its clever marketing from the Hyundai Corp. by having two brands means they increase their odds by 2 for getting a person to buy their vehicles and increase their market share.
It’s a waste of money having their own cars competing against each other and as such this is why no other company in any other industry does this. Are you forgetting that the whole point of a company is to maximise profit?
Hyundai should be repositioned as a luxury/premium brand or Kia as a youth brand so that they can at least target different segments of the car market.
“Hyundai should be repositioned as a luxury/premium brand”
>> moving the Sonata from a 26k/monthly sales category (Toyota Camry) to a 3k/monthly category (Lexus ES) makes so much sense.
That’s why a Kia equivalent would take over from the Sonata and Hyundai could have a high profit, low volume car to take on the Lexus. Makes much more sense.
Hyundai just need a new ‘luxury’ division.
….and its name is “Genisis”.
Check it out on Hyundais global website. This ain’t no $14,000 drive away Excel!!!
Wouldn’t you rather be in control of your nearest competitor?
The old “mainstream” manufacturers have only themselves to blame – since the GFC they have all whacked up their prices and/or reduced the vehicle content.
It’s the last throes of arrogant marketeers – what? the consumer is not buying our superior product – we’ll have to jack up the price, that’ll learn ‘em.
Disagree Ian. Hyundai vehicles are superior to Kia. Kia sells rock bottom priced vehicles but they give a hell of a lot of problems. Hyundai on the other end has continually improved the performance and design of the vehicle. They are a solid automaker. What out toyota, indeed.
“but they give a hell alot of problems”
Please explain??? Were in 2009 not 2001 when the 1st Carnival was introduced
Agree with Km here…KIA has come a long way in the past 10 years …C/A even has a report on how KIA’s have proven to be more reliable than German cars. It was only written in the past few weeks.
CarZ, I totally disagree with you. I have owned 4 KIA’s since 2002 and apart from the general servicing, my cars run well and don’t rtequire additional trips to the mechanics. I have had a sunvisor replaced on my Magentis (Under warranty without hesitation) but that’s about it. I travel on average 25,000km / year and the cars have never let me down. People like you who comment without proof should keep their opinions to themselves.
KIA and Hyundai basically use the same parts so if a part was to fail in a KIA, it’s just as likely to fail in a Hyundai. Every consumable that is replaced at service intervals is stamped Hyundai and Kia.
in aus,
every extra car they have sold,has been at honda’s expense(vfacts)…
I tried to order a 2010 Santa Fe, no Hyundai dealer can give me a quote. I am very happy now as I have just ordered a Toyota. Hyundai here in Australia, have a far way to go.
You can’t totally blame them Mr Buy. With the current financial climate and the $Aus going gangbusters, final pricing may not have been finalised due to the constant movement of the market. Don’t forget, the car hasn’t been released yet officially.