Hyundai Motor Europe with solid half-year-results
- European sales in first half of 2006 amount to 178,612 units
- Strong growth in SUV sales leads to good overall result
- Quality offensive and higher brand positioning successful
Offenbach, July 13, 2006 – The world’s No. 6 automaker*, Korea-based Hyundai Motor Company, produced solid European sales results in the first half of 2006. The company’s recent move up-market is proving successful, as Hyundai’s higher-end models contributed substantially to the overall European sales result of 178,612 units year-to-date.
As expected, Hyundai kept a strong position in the small segments, with the B-segment Getz (47,393 units sold) and the small car Atos (20,415), and also continued its growth in the European Sports Utility Vehicle market, in which it ranked No. 3 in 2005. With 34,432 units sold year-to-date (14 per cent increase compared to 2005 data) the Tucson small SUV is still a true best-seller, one and a half years after its market launch. Sales of the full-size SUV Santa Fe, which is now offered in an all-new version, skyrocketed in 2006 and reached 25,543 units in the first half, an increase of approximately 41 per cent.
“Our situation in Europe is quite good at the moment,” says Gerry Dorizas, Vice President of Hyundai Motor Europe. “In addition to maintaining loyalty of our traditional small segment and value-for-money customers, we have finally managed to open the doors to higher-end consumer groups in Europe. By now, many of them know from consumer surveys and expert tests that Hyundai vehicles like the Santa Fe and Tucson SUVs and Grandeur and Sonata sedans are reliable and offer a very high level of quality. Not surprisingly, these models have become quite popular.”
Hyundai was recently listed as No. 3 by customers in the 2006 J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey (IQS).** With Porsche and Lexus placed as No. 1 and No. 2, Hyundai was the leading volume brand in the survey. Furthermore, the Hyundai Tucson finished first in the segment of compact multifunctional vehicles. The Hyundai models Sonata, Grandeur, Elantra and Coupe scored among the top 3 in their respective segments.
Sales in Europe also clearly benefited from Hyundai’s sponsorship of the World Cup 2006, which ended on July 9th. The sponsoring gave an immediate additional sales impetus in some of the European markets, in particular the World Cup host-country, Germany. Hyundai also managed to increase brand awareness by providing the official FIFA vehicle fleet (approx. 1,000 vehicles) and by hosting many fan events. Hyundai is still awaiting market research data on the sponsorship. However, it seems clear already at this point that initial response by consumers was very positive and has done a great deal to improve Hyundai’s image around the world.
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* Hyundai was listed as No. 6 in the Automotive News worldwide sales ranking 2006
** The IQS survey measures 217 attributes of a vehicle including performance, engine, transmission and a wide range of difficulties and design problems. Improving its quality degree by 11 per cent, Hyundai cars showed the third highest increase following Porsche and Volvo.
Hyundai Motor Europe GmbH (HME) was established in 2000. Located in Offenbach, Germany, it coordinates all marketing, sales and aftersales activities in all of Hyundai’s 26 European markets. It employs nearly 200 people of various nationalities. Hyundai is the third largest Asian automobile brand in Europe, with an annual European sales volume of approximately 350,000 vehicles. More information on Hyundai Motor Europe is available in the internet at http://www.hyundai-motor-europe.com. | 
