À̹ÌÁö È®´ë Domestic sales by Korean car producers increased in September, snapping an eight-month losing streak while Japanese brands sold less than half in Korea against a year-ago period amid unrelenting anti-Japanese sentiment.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Thursday, automobile sales in Korea reached 133,016 units last month, up 4.1 percent from a year ago, rebounding sharply from 6.3 percent fall in August.
Domestic car sales added 1.0 percent on year to 110,465 units amid robust demand for new models in SUVs Kia Seltos, Kia Mohave, Renault Samsung QM6 and Hyundai Venue.
À̹ÌÁö È®´ë Imported car sales jumped 22.5 percent to 22,551 units, but Japanese brands reported a 59.8 percent plunge on the back of a 56.9 percent fall a month earlier. Toyota saw a 61.9 percent fall, Honda 82.2 percent, Infiniti 69.2 percent and Nissan 68 percent. Lexus only posted a 49.8 percent increase in auto sales.
Among the German brands, Mercedes-Benz car sales soared 296.7 percent and BMW 107.1 percent, while sales of Audi vehicles were down 16 percent.
Despite an increase in domestic sales with new releases, Korea¡¯s auto output and exports contracted 4.8 percent each to 277,990 units and 171,425 units, respectively, in September, as woes of carmakers under foreign ownership weigh over national car performance.
À̹ÌÁö È®´ë Kia Seltos
The fall in the country¡¯s total auto output was mostly blamed on GM Korea whose monthly output stopped at 17,491 vehicles, down 47 percent on year and smallest since August 2003 due to labor union strike and Chuseok national holiday.
Exports turnover however gained 4.0 percent on year to total $3.08 billion thanks to demand for expensive SUVs and eco-friendly models. Shipments to the European Union were up 22.6 percent, Eastern Europe 1.7 percent, Asia 7.0 percent, and the Middle East 36.9 percent, while exports to North America shrank 1.5 percent, Central and South America 25.5 percent, Africa 33.1 percent, and Oceania 4.5 percent.
Eco-friendly car sales at home rose 10.3 percent on year to 9,656 units and exports up 82.7 percent to 24,808 units.
By Lee Ha-yeon
[¨Ï Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]