S. Korean auto production forecast to drop 6.5 pct next year

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean automakers are expected to produce a combined 3.6 million vehicles in 2009, a 6.5 percent decline from this year's estimated 3.85 million units, due to the ongoing economic slump, an industry group said Tuesday.

Domestic sales are projected to drop 8.7 percent to 1.05 million units next year,
the lowest since 1998 when the country was hit by an Asia-wide financial
meltdown, according to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Auto exports may decline 5.6 percent to 2.55 million vehicles worth US$46.5
billion next year, compared with this year's estimate of 2.7 million units worth
$50.2 billion.
Automakers' exports for this year are estimated to fall 5.2 percent from a year
earlier, the first drop in seven years, it said.
Meanwhile, sales of imported cars in South Korea will fall 6.7 percent to 70,000
units next year, it added.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)

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