Hyundai records 13% rise in ME sales

Hyundai Motor Company has announced its best ever first half year sales for the full Middle East region. The company registered an increase of 13 per cent in total sales compared to the first six months of 2011, selling 161,554 vehicles. Hyundai enjoyed increased sales in almost all of the GCC and Levant countries, with Kuwait leading the way with impressive growth of 127 per cent. The Accent, the company’s ever popular midsized sedan, continues to be Hyundai’s biggest selling model across these countries, with sales up 76 per cent with 35,143 units being sold. Bahrain experienced a massive 99 per cent increase in sales, while the UAE saw sales shoot up by 77 per cent, Qatar by 60 per cent and Oman by 48 per cent. With 56,118 cars leaving the showroom so far this year, Saudi Arabia remains Hyundai’s biggest market in the region, recording a 16 per cent leap in sales. Among the Levant countries, Lebanon and Jordan also enjoyed strong starts to the year with sales up 32 per cent and 31 per cent respectively. Among the models leading the charge for Hyundai are those that make up the company’s luxury car line-up — the Centennial and Genesis — which have experience a combined 60 per cent increase in sales. Gulf Today