Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group outsold Toyota in Europe in the first half of the year, and has also beaten the Japanese carmaker in China, the world's largest auto market. According to a report released Wednesday by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Hyundai's sales jumped 28 percent on-year to 328,000 units in the January to June period, and Kia's 76 percent to 160,000 units.
Their combined sales reached a record high of 488,000 units. If the current trend continues, Hyundai-Kia is likely to achieve its sales target for the year of one million units (Hyundai 670,000 and Kia 330,000) in China.
Toyota outperformed other Japanese carmakers with sales of 362,000 vehicles in China, up 27 percent from the previous year, but it sold 126,000 units less than the Korean automotive group.
Hyundai-Kia has been pulling ahead of Toyota in major global markets except for North America. It sold a combined 329,000 units in Europe in the first six months, 3,000 more than Toyota's 326,000.
[Source: The Chosun Ilbo]
