Hyundai Motor's auto sales drop 27 pct amid global downturn

SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's top automaker, said
Monday its vehicle sales declined 26.7 percent last month as a deepening global
economic downturn sapped demand for new cars.

Hyundai sold a total of 179,044 units in January with exports dropping 25.3
percent to 143,648 units and domestic sales sliding 31.8 percent to 35,396 units.

The decline in January sales is due to a "steep contraction in vehicle demand at
home and abroad following the severe downturn in the global economy," Hyundai
said in a statement.
Separately, Kia Motors Corp., an affiliate of Hyundai, said its auto sales
nosedived 37.9 percent last month to 74,915 units.
Kia's exports plunged 46.4 percent to 52,859 units, while domestic sales rose 0.1
percent to 22,056 units.
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