The number of hybrid vehicles registered by Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. in the Korean market exceeded 200,000 as of the end of August, Yonhap news agency reported Sunday.
Registrations of hybrid vehicles from the two automakers in Korea totaled 211,289 during the period, up 19.7 percent year-on-year, Yonhap said, citing data from the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA).
With an average of 26,000 units sold per month, if the trend continues, Hyundai-Kia hybrid vehicle registrations are expected to exceed the 300,000 unit mark for the first time this year in the country, the same source estimates.
The most popular hybrid vehicle from both companies was Kia’s Sorento SUV with 43,342 registrations, ahead of Hyundai’s Santa Fe SUV (35,436 units), Kia’s Carnival minivan (27,935), Hyundai’s Grandeur sedan (24,110) and Kia’s Sportage SUV (22,119).
Meanwhile, Renault Korea’s hybrid vehicle sales also surged 255 percent from 1,209 units in January-August 2023 to 4,292 at the end of the same period this year.
Total registrations of hybrid vehicles by Korean automakers have increased significantly each year, with 62,136 in 2018, 75,966 in 2019, 127,996 in 2020, 149,489 in 2021, 183,915 in 2022 and 284,923 in 2023, the same source recalled.
The popularity of hybrid vehicles is also evident in the foreign model market. According to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA), registrations of imported hybrid vehicles jumped 45.8 percent to 81,081 units in the first eight months of this year.
Sales of imported hybrid vehicles are expected to cross the 100,000-unit threshold this year. Registrations of such foreign cars reached 22,844 in 2019, 35,988 in 2020, 73,380 in 2021, 74,207 in 2022 and 91,680 in 2023.
With MAP
