Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors saw their sales in Europe rise 16.7 percent last month compared to a year ago. They also enjoyed a 9.5-percent growth in China. Thanks to brisk sales in the world's top-three car markets—the United States, Europe, and China, the two Korean car makers savored higher-than-market-average growth last month.
In contrast to the robust performance in overseas markets, they are losing shares in domestic market, challenged by import car brands.
According to KB Investment & Securities' analysis of the data released by the European Automobile Manufacturer's Association, Hyundai Motor sold 50,779 units last month in 15 European countries, including Germany and the UK, up 19.9 percent from a year ago. Kia Motors also recorded a 12.8-percent growth in sales to 39,923 units.
With a combined European sales of 90,702 units, their share in the European market rose to 5.9 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from a year before.
Even in China, they chalked up a 9.5-percent growth in sales to 161,553 units last month, including 102,552 units for Hyundai (up 7.9% from a year ago) and 59,001 units for Kia (up 12.4%).