Hyundai Motor America Reports Record December and Full-Year Sales

COSTA MESA, Calif., Jan. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 50,765 vehicles in December, a 13 percent total sales increase and 18 percent retail sales increase compared with the same record-setting period a year ago.   

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For the year, Hyundai sales were up 20 percent versus 2010 in total, with sales to retail customers up 29 percent.  Sales to fleet accounts represented just 10 percent of total sales for 2011 and three percent for the month of December.    

"We are encouraged by the present market fundamentals combined with consistent signals including brisk holiday selling that indicates a broader industry recovery," said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's executive vice president of national sales.  "We finished 2011 with solid momentum and much improved inventory levels and are enthusiastic about our prospects for 2012 as we continue to launch a broad array of new product entries."

The Alabama-built Sonata and North American Car of the Year finalist Elantra both set full-year records with sales of 225,961 units (up 15 percent) and 186,361 (up 41 percent) respectively. The all-new Accent saw an incredible year-over-year sales increase of 91 percent for the month of December and finished the year up seven percent over 2010. 

Hyundai's premium models also performed well, with Genesis delivering 32,998 sales for the year, an increase of 13 percent over 2010, setting an all-time yearly record.  In its very first year, Equus found 3,193 very satisfied owners, delivering over five percent market share of the premium sedan segment with residual values and J.D. Power APEAL ratings unsurpassed by Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, or Audi.  Equus is powered by the 5.0L Tau GDI V8 429-horsepower engine, a 2011 Ward's Ten Best engines winner.

"December was another record-setting month and 2011 a record-setting year for Hyundai," said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America.  "Hyundai sold a record 645,691 units this year, built over 420,000 cars right here in the U.S., and achieved an industry-leading 36.1 miles per gallon CAFÉ level doing it.

"Sonata's retail sales performance in 2011 was a real highlight for us. Along with Camry, Accord, Civic, and possibly Altima, the Hyundai Sonata was one of only five cars in the entire industry with retail sales (excluding fleet) over 200,000 units. Consumers tell us they have segment-leading levels of satisfaction with the bold design and real-world fuel economy of the Sonata – this recipe has been extremely successful for all of our new Hyundai products."

Hyundai achieved a corporate average fuel economy level of 37 MPG (27.9 MPG label value) in December, and 36.1 MPG (27.2 MPG label value) year-to-date, while selling 18,920 vehicles (Elantra sedan, Sonata Hybrid, Accent and Veloster) with 40 MPG window label highway fuel economy ratings. Year-to-date, Hyundai has sold 214,132 40 MPG vehicles, representing one-third of total sales.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. 

For more details on Hyundai Assurance, please visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com

Journalists are invited to visit our news media website:  www.hyundainews.com

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America