South Korea’s top five vehicle manufacturers sold a combined 8,605,654 vehicles globally in 2013, which represents a 5% increase compared with 8,198,295 units sold in 2012, according to data released individually by the vehicle manufacturers.
Strong demand growth in China and North America in particular helped to drive global volumes higher last year.
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The top five reported a combined drop in domestic sales of 2.1% to 1,373,902 units, from 1,403,165 units in 2012. Overseas sales, including vehicles assembled in overseas plants, more than made up for the domestic weakness – with volumes rising by 6.4% 7,231,752 units – from 6,795,130 units in 2012.
Hyundai
The Hyundai brand accounted for 55% of global sales of the top five South Korean automakers – or some 4,721,156 units. This represents a 7.3% increase on the 4,401,946 vehicles it sold in 2012.
Domestic sales fell by 4% to 640,865 units, while overseas sales increased by 9.3% to 4,080,291 units. Overseas production increased by 16.5% to 2,912,133 units, while domestic output fell 5.4% to 1,168,158 units.
Kia
The Kia brand accounted for almost 33% of global sales of the top five South Korean automakers – after volumes climbed by 3.9% to 2,827,321 units, from 2,720,735 units in the previous year.
Domestic sales were 5% lower at 458,000 units, from 482,060 units in 2012, while overseas sales increased by 5.8% to 2,369,321 units, from 2,238,675 units.
Separately, Hyundai Motor group chairman Chung Mong-koo has set a combined global sales target for the Hyundai and Kia brands of 7.86 million units for 2014, up by over 4% compared with the 7.55 million sales in 2013.
GM Korea
GM Korea reported a 2.5% decline in global sales to 780,518 units, compared with 800,635 units in 2012. Its best-selling model was the Spark minicar, with 60,969 global sales – according to local reports.
Domestic sales were up by 3.7% at 151,040 units, but this was offset by a 6.9% drop in overseas sales to 629,478 units.
Ssangyong Motors
Ssangyong Motors, which is now controlled by India’s Mahindra group, reported a 20.7% jump in global sales to 145,649 units, from 120,670 units in 2012. Its performance was underpinned by the new Korando SUV, with demand in Russia and China particularly strong.
Domestic sales increased by 6.7% to 63,970 units, from 59,926 units previously, while overseas sales were 34.5% higher at 81,679 units, from 60,744 units.
Renault-Samsung
Renault-Samsung was the worst performer of the top-five Korean automakers last year, with global sales falling by over 15% to 131,010 units, from 154,309 units previously. This mostly reflects weak demand for its flagship SM5 model.
Domestic sales increased by almost 26%, but this was more than offset by a massive 33% drop in overseas sales to 70,983 units.
South Korean carmakers: domestic/overseas sales by brand in 2013
| Domestic | Overseas | Global | |
| Hyundai | 640865 | 4080291 | 4721156 |
| Kia | 458000 | 2369321 | 2827321 |
| GM Korea | 151040 | 629478 | 780518 |
| Ssangyong | 63970 | 81679 | 145649 |
| Renault-Samsung | 60027 | 70983 | 131010 |
| Total | 1373902 | 7231752 | 8605654 |
| Source: industry sources, AsiaMotorBusiness. |
