Photo: Hyundai
March was a rough month for vehicle sales, with most automakers reporting decreased numbers. However, Hyundai managed to buck the industry’s downward trend, announcing overall sales gains of 2 percent and retail gains of 1 percent. It was the eighth straight month of sales increases for the Korean automaker.
Hyundai sold 61,177 vehicles for the month. 30,000 of those vehicles were SUVs, making up 49 percent of total sales. That’s a new March SUV sales record for Hyundai — a 17 percent gain over the same time last year. It’s also the eighth straight month of increasing SUV sales for Hyundai.
Hyundai’s March sales gains were the capper to a strong first quarter.
“Despite a challenging first quarter for the industry, Hyundai was able to gain market share as our retail sales grew 2 percent through the first three months of the year,” said John Cook, Hyundai Motor America’s director of sales operations.
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For March, four models led the way with sales gains. The Tucson SUV achieved 11,976 sales for a new March record, a 1 percent increase over the same period in 2018. The Kona crossover notched 7,015 sales, its second-best showing ever and a 197 percent increase from last March. Sales for the Accent sedan hit 3,166, an 8 percent gain. The Veloster hatchback sold 2,055 units, a 42 percent increase.
With several new models on the way, Hyundai is optimistic about continuing its sales gains in the coming months. The redesigned 2020 Sonata sedan and all-new 2020 Venue crossover will make their debuts at the New York International Auto Show in late April. And the 2020 Palisade, Hyundai’s largest SUV to date, will be rolling into dealerships this summer.
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