Hyundai ranks seventh in the United States in automotive sales. Hyundai’s Korean compatriot and underling, Kia, is posting improved sales all around the globe. How did this happen? As Hyundai introduces the Genesis sedan, Kia is soon to upgrade the Amanti to become more Hyundai Azera-like. Kia is just rolling out its gigantic SUV, the Borrego. Hyundai’s largest SUV, the Veracruz, is in some eyes better than the Lexus RX. But….
That’s a small part of the Hyundai/Kia success story in America. Check out the U.S. sales stats below. Remember the models that have succumbed to the current state of the American automotive marketplace: Hyundai’s Sonata, Azera, Santa Fe, Tuscon, Tiburon, Entourage and Kia’s Amanti, Sedona, Sportage, and Sorento.
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56.2 – percentage sales jump for the Hyundai Accent (compact hatchback and sedan) over the first half of this year compared with January-July of 2007
51.7 – percentage sales jump for the Kia Rondo (mini-minivan) over the first half of this year
40.4 – percentage sales increase posted by the Kia Optima (midsize sedan) during January-July of ’08
7,048 – total sales of the Hyundai Veracruz (large crossover) through July of this year, up from 5,226 Veracruz sales in the first six months of 2007
28 – percentage increase in Kia Rio (compact hatch and sedan) sales (to 24,668) through July of this year
72,432 – total Hyundai Elantra (small sedan) sales in the first half of 2008, up from 57,914 during the same period of 2007
5,940 – increase in sales of the Kia Spectra (small sedan) comparing the first six months of 2008 with the same period of 2007
