According to foreign media reports, data released by South Korea's five major car companies on November 1st showed that Hyundai, Kia, GM South Korea, Renault Samsung and Ssangyong sold a total of 577528 cars worldwide in October, down 21% from a year earlier. It fell for the fourth month in a row.
Of these, sales of the five car companies in South Korea were 106424, down 21.5 per cent from a year earlier, the eighth consecutive month of decline, while overseas sales were 471104, down 20.9 per cent from a year earlier.
In addition to Renault Samsung, the other four South Korean car companies have seen a sharp drop in sales at home and abroad. Renault Samsung said its global sales grew by more than 50 per cent year-on-year due to strong demand in the overseas market for XM3's cross-border SUV.
Hyundai, South Korea's largest carmaker, sold 307039 vehicles worldwide in October, down 20.7 per cent from a year earlier. Of this total, South Korean sales were 57813, down 12 per cent from a year earlier, while overseas sales were 249226, down 22.5 per cent from a year earlier.
The Grandeur is Hyundai's best-selling model, with sales of 9448. Sonata (Sonata) and the G80, Hyundai's luxury brand, were not far behind, with sales of 6136 and 6119, respectively.
Hyundai sold 13354 electric vehicles in South Korea, up 50.5 per cent from a year earlier. In the first 10 months, Hyundai electric car sales totaled 96542, up 38.2% from a year earlier.
Kia's global sales in October were 217872, down 18.9 per cent from a year earlier. Of this total, South Korean sales were 37837, down 21.2 per cent from a year earlier, while overseas sales were 180035, down 18.4 per cent from a year earlier. The Sportage SUV is the world's best-selling model in Kia, with sales of 30174 vehicles, followed by Seltos (27468) and K3 (16627).
GM sold 6875 vehicles worldwide in October, down 78.1 per cent from a year earlier, of which South Korean sales were 2493, down 64.7 per cent from a year earlier, and overseas sales were 4382, down 82 per cent from a year earlier. The Chevrolet Spark sells 1047 vehicles in South Korea, making it the company's best-selling model in South Korea. Chevrolet Traverse sales were 310, up 3 per cent from a year earlier.
Renault Samsung sold 5002 vehicles worldwide in October, down 30 per cent from a year earlier. However, the company's overseas sales surged to 6625 from 392 in the same period last year, up 1590.1 per cent from a year earlier. Renault Samsung's overseas sales are mainly driven by the XM3 Cross-border SUV, which sold 4819 vehicles overseas and 792 in South Korea, thanks to a steady supply of components at its headquarters. Renault Samsung expects production at its Busan plant to return to normal as soon as November.
Ssangyong said it sold 4779 vehicles worldwide in October, down 53.1 per cent from a year earlier. Of this total, sales in South Korea were 3279, down 56.9 per cent from a year earlier. Overseas sales were 1500, down 42 per cent from a year earlier. The New Rexton Sports series has been warmly welcomed by consumers at home and abroad, but the delivery of orders for 12000 vehicles has been affected by the continuing shortage of chips.
