Hyundai, Kia report best-ever first-quarter sales in U.S.

WASHINGTON, April 1 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate, Kia Motors Corp., saw their combined sales in the United States fall slightly in March, but their first-quarter performances were the best ever, industry data showed Friday.

The two South Korean auto giants sold a combined 133,589 units in the U.S. last month, down 0.15 percent from 133,790 units sold in the same period last year, the data showed. Combined with January and February sales, however, their performances marked the best ever for the first quarter, the companies said.

Hyundai's sales rose 0.4 percent to 75,310 units on the strong demand for the Tucson sport utility vehicle, whose sales rose 85 percent to 7,830 units from last year, as well as for the Sonata mid-size sedan whose sales rose 57 percent to an all-time high of 28,778 units, the company said.

Kia's sales fell slightly to 58,279 units from last year's 58,771, but the company said the figure included the best-ever single month sales for the Forte line of compact cars, and together with January and February figures, marked a new first quarter record of 146,321 vehicles.

The record was led by the Sportage sport utility vehicle, whose first-quarter sales rose 50 percent to 17,467 units from last year.

jschang@yna.co.kr
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