Korean auto sales fall sharply in emerging markets

SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- Auto shipments by South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. and
its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. to emerging markets plunged last month from a year
earlier due to the worsening economic slowdown, company officials said Sunday.
Exports of South Korean-built cars, led by Hyundai and Kia, to the Central and
South American market fell 71.4 percent to 7,161 vehicles in January, compared
with 25,090 units a year ago, they said.
Shipments by Hyundai and Kia to the Eastern European market dropped 64.2 percent
on an annual basis to 6,126 units during the same period.
The sharp fall in exports to the two regions can be attributed to the regions'
economies taking a turn for the worse, officials said.
Meanwhile, Hyundai and Kia exported 35,898 vehicles produced in South Korea to
the North American market last month, down 35.4 percent from a year ago.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)