Hyundai Motor Co sold a record 1,598,965 vehicles in 2001 with both domestic Korean and export sales reaching best ever levels.

Export totalled 892,301 – almost one per cent up on 2000’s figure of 886,485 – and domestic sales reached 706,684 – up 9.3 per cent compared to the 646,670 sold last year – as the overall figure climbed by 4.3 per cent compared to the prior record total in 2000 of 1,533,155.

Domestic Korean sales increased in all areas. Passenger cars were up by 11.6 per cent from 426,275 to 475,779 and commercial vehicles showed a 3.5 per cent increase from 220,395 to 230,885 in 2001.

Disruption to production during December and construction of new production facilities at Hyundai’s Korean factories affected overall shipments of export vehicles during the year, but overall export performance remained strong and demand for Hyundai’s new, larger vehicles increased.

In particular, the Santa Fe, Trajet, LaVita (Matrix) and the new Sonata all saw strong performances offshore. Demand for Sonata was also high in the domestic market along with the new Elantra and the all-new Tiburon /Tuscani coupe, which is just commencing exports to some markets and is due in Australia in March.