S. Korea's auto sales gain 43.2 pct in Sept

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SEOUL, Oct. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean automakers, led by Hyundai Motor Co. and
its affiliate Kia Motors Corp., reported Thursday a combined 43.2 percent rise in
auto sales last month, fueled by higher demand at home and overseas.
Combined sales of the nation's five automakers rose to 552,746 units last month,
marking the third consecutive monthly gain, according to figures released by the
carmakers.
Domestic sales jumped 77.2 percent to 137,567 units and exports rose 34.7 percent
to 415,179 units, the figures showed.
Hyundai posted its best-ever monthly sales as they jumped 61.3 percent to 307,181
units last month.
"It's the first time that monthly sales have exceeded 300,000 units," said an
official at Hyundai.
Kia also saw sales soar 68.8 percent to 163.177 units in September.
But sales at GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., the local unit of General Motors
Co., fell 23 percent to 57,543 units, hurt by weaker overseas demand.
Renault Samsung Motors Co., the local unit of French automaker Renault SA, said
its September auto sales gained 16.6 percent to 19,357 units last month.
Sales at Ssangyong Motor Co., under bankruptcy protection since February, dipped
38.7 percent to 5,488 units last month.
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