Hyundai Sales Grow for 10th Month in a Row
Thanks to continued SUV sales growth, Hyundai Motor America posted a 10th straight month of sales gains in May.
Overall, Hyundai made 66,121 U.S. sales for the month, a 2 percent increase over May 2018. Of those sales, more than 55 percent were for SUVs. The total number of SUVs sold — 36,639 — is the most Hyundai has ever sold in a single month and a 27 percent increase over last May.
“Hyundai’s expanding SUV lineup is clearly resonating with customers and with Palisade sales starting this month, our SUV mix is becoming more in line with the industry and represents a big opportunity for Hyundai sales throughout the rest of the year,” said John Cook, Hyundai Motor America’s director of sales operations.
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SUVs Lead the Way
At the individual vehicle level, the Kona and Kona EV marked a 42 percent year-over-year sales increase with 7,197 units sold. The Santa Fe and Santa Fe XL sold a combined 13,807 units for a 29 percent increase. The Tucson was up 20 percent with 15,616 sold. Two cars also achieved sales growth: the Veloster with 1,020 sales and a 40 percent jump, and the Accent with 2,659 sales and an 8 percent increase.
The Elantra remained Hyundai’s best-selling vehicle, with 15,733 units sold. However, that marks a 24 percent decrease from May 2018, as sedan sales continue to slump.
“The focus on our core models, along with the efforts of our regions and retail partners, strong marketing support, and an exceptional product line, continued to grow sales and pick up market share in an industry that we expected to be down in May,” said Cook.
For the month, retail sales were up 4 percent, the fourth straight month that segment has posted year-over-year increases. Those retail gains, powered by hot sales for Hyundai’s SUV lineup, were more than enough to offset a 5 percent drop in fleet sales.
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