Sales of imported cars may top 100,000 units this year

SEOUL, Sept. 5 (Yonhap) -- Sales of imported vehicles in South Korea may surpass
100,000 units this year, driven by aggressive marketing and rising demand,
industry sources said Sunday.
In the first eight months of the year, a total of 58,371 imported cars were sold
in the country, compared with 36,674 units a year earlier, according to the Korea
Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA).
"Most foreign automakers saw their sales sharply increase this year," said an
official at the association. "Growing demand for new models and aggressive
promotion by each brand are likely to continue."
Volkswagen, Audi, Volvo and other foreign carmakers will help drive up sales in
South Korea this year by launching new models, the official said.
Accumulated sales for this year have already topped last year's total sales of
60,993 units.
Foreign automakers' combined market share in South Korea reached 6.96 percent in
August, the association said. The corresponding figures were 6.04 percent in 2008
and 5.13 percent in 2007.
Last year, the market share of imported cars dropped to 4.94 percent amid the
global recession.
BMW Korea, the South Korean unit of BMW Group of Germany, became the first
foreign automaker to top 2,000 units in monthly sales in August, on growing
demand for its new 5-series.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)