S Korean automakers see 24.6% rise in sales in June

• Source: Xinhua
• [08:54 July 02 2010]
• Comments

South Korea's five carmakers saw a 24. 6 percent year-on-year gain in total sales in June on the back of an increase in exports, data showed Thursday.

South Korea's five automakers, including Hyundai Motors, Kia Motors Corp., GM Daewoo Auto & Technology, Renault Samsung Motors Co. and Ssangyong Motor Co., sold a combined 595,439 units last month, up from the 477,702 units in June 2009, according the data released by the companies.

The gain came as the five companies saw a surge in exports, which climbed 41.6 percent year-on-year to 474,676 units in June.

The combined domestic sales of the companies, however, dropped 15.3 percent to 120,763 units.

Market leader Hyundai Motor saw a 29.1 percent yearly increase in overseas sales to 263,745 units, while its domestic sales plunged 34.9 percent to 48,643 units.

No. 2 carmaker Kia Motors, affiliate of Hyundai Motor, also saw its domestic sales fall 3.4 percent on-year to 44,431 units in June, but its overseas sales jumped 37.5 percent to 133,960 units.

Meanwhile, South Korea's smallest automaker Ssangyong Motor, which has been under bankruptcy protection since last year, continued its upward trend in sales, selling 7,422 units in domestic and overseas markets, up 5.6 percent from a month earlier.