Hyundai Motor said its provisional May sales fell 39% year on year to 217,510 vehicles globally, as the coronavirus outbreak continued to hit demand in key markets.
Sales were, however, up about 30% from 167,693 vehicles in April, Reuters reported.
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Domestic sales rose 5% year on year, led by popular models such as the Grandeur sedan and new models such as the redesigned Elantra and premium brand Genesis' G80 sedan.
However, overseas sales fell 50% on year due to weak auto demand from slowing economic activities stemming from COVID-19, the automaker said in a statement cited by the news agency.
South Korea's May auto exports fell 54% on year despite the sequential resumption of sales at dealerships in major countries, due to increased inventory from low sales in the previous month and decreased demand in major markets such as the US and Europe, the trade ministry told Reuters in a separate statement.
Hyundai Motor sister company Kia Motors announced provisional May sales of 160,913 vehicles, down 33% from a year ago, while its domestic sales rose 19% on year and overseas sales fell 44%.
