Hyundai Named One Of Top 5 Most-Considered Car Brands by KBB.com

Kelley Blue Book’s Kbb.com Brand Watch reports that for the first time ever, Hyundai has made the list of top five most-considered brands. In Q2 2010 Hyundai brand consideration surged nearly six percentage points in the non-luxury coupe/sedan/hatchback segment. Hyundai now garners 29 percent of the total consideration among shoppers of this segment, beating out top competitors like Nissan.

Kelley Blue Book’s Brand Watch is an ongoing study tracking and trending consumer perceptions, detailing strengths and weaknesses of makes within each segment.

“Hyundai is truly on a roll,” said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. “Hyundai has proven that when you make dynamic, exciting and affordable products that appeal to the new-car shopping masses, consumer perception begins to change and subsequently, sales will follow.”

Kelley Blue Book’s Kbb.com Q2 2010 Brand Watch was fielded to more than 3,000 in-market new-car shoppers on Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com from April 6 – June 17, 2010. Q2 findings reveal that new-car shoppers rank durability/reliability, driving comfort, fuel efficiency, driving performance and safety (respectively) as the top five important factors while shopping for their next new vehicle.

[Source: Hyundai]

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Kia Tops Russia's Import Sales For The First Time

Kia Motors became the best-selling foreign auto brand in Russia for the first time last month.

According to a report released Wednesday by the Association of European Businesses, Kia sold 10,502 vehicles there in July, up a whopping 105 percent from the same month last year.

The booming sales were thanks to the popularity of the Cee'd compact (3,253 units sold), Rio subcompact (3,205), and Sportage compact crossover SUV (1,677).

Chevrolet took second place with 8,986 cars sold, followed by Renault SA (8,574) and Toyota (8,251). Hyundai came seventh with 7,201 although its sales climbed 56 percent on-year.

Kia's cumulative sales in Russia from January through July totaled 56,231 units, trailing only Chevrolet with 61,996. Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group topped the import market in the first half, selling a combined 84,278 vehicles.

[Source: The Chosun Ilbo]

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Hyundai i30 'Trophy' Goes on Sale in Australia

Celebrating its recent successes in the Australian market, Hyundai has today announced a new special edition model in the i30 and i30cw line-up, dubbed 'Trophy'. Limited to just 500 units in each bodystyle, the i30 Trophy hatch and i30cw Trophy wagon are based on the 2.0 litre petrol SX model, available with both manual and automatic transmissions.

Outside, the Trophy models feature 16-inch alloy wheels (plus a matching full-size spare), along with a rear spoiler for the i30 hatch. The front bumper features recessed fog lamps to suit the i30's restyled headlights, and 'Trophy' badging rounds out the exterior tweaks. On the inside, cruise control is fitted as standard for the Trophy variants, along with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and matching gear knob.

Standard features for the SX-based i30 and i30cw wagon Trophy limited editions includes air-conditioning with pollen filter, remote keyless entry with alarm, power windows and mirrors, along with full AUX, USB and iPod connectivity, and a chilled glove box.

[Source: Description]

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Milestone: Hyundai Achieves 3 Million Sales in India

Hyundai Motor India Ltd., India's second largest car maker has achieved a remarkable milestone of reaching 3 million units in sales including exports. The automaker started its operations in 1996 and the first Santro rolled out during September 1998. Hyundai rapidly set up the factory in just 17 months and made another impressive achievement by becoming the second largest car maker in just 6 months.

Hyundai continued to achieve milestones by rolling out 150 000 units in 25 months. Hyundai is one of the most trusted brands in India with competitive service and reputed customer satisfaction.

HMIL now becomes the second manufacturer in India to achieve the distinction. HMIL is celebrating this special occasion with a unique initiative to ensure “peace of mind” for its customers.

The ‘Hyundai Triple Assurance Program’, a three-pronged nationwide scheme, will offer customers a host of incentives. The Triple Assurance Program includes the 'Maintenance Assurance Program’, ‘Motor Assurance Program’ and ‘Warranty Assurance Program’. The Hyundai Triple Assurance Program will be available to the buyers of the Santro and the i10, and will be available from 5th – 25th August, 2010.

[Source: Hyundai Motor India]

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Hyundai Aims For 50 MPG Line-Up By 2025

Hyundai has set an ambitious goal of producing the world's most fuel-efficient line of cars.

The automaker on Thursday announced a plan to boost the average fuel efficiency of its U.S. vehicle lineup by more than 60 percent over the next 15 years from the current 30.9 MPG to a staggering 50 MPG. To that end, it will add electric and hybrid cars to its lineup.

Meanwhile, John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America, said Thursday that with the growing sales of the new Sonata mid-sized sedan, he expects the company can break the 500,000 mark in sales in the U.S. for the first time this year.

[Source: The Chosun Ilbo]

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Hyundai Posts US July Sales, 19 Percent Rise

Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 54,106 vehicles in July, a 19 percent increase compared with the same period a year ago. This represents an all-time sales record for the month of July and marks only the fourth time Hyundai has surpassed 50,000 units in a month. The all-new Sonata produced at the company’s plant in Montgomery, Alabama, continued selling at a record pace, while its stable mate Tucson saw sales soar more than 200 percent for the fourth month in a row.

Year to date, Hyundai sales are up 24 percent versus 2009, a performance that represents an all-time record for the first seven months of any year.

“Although consumer confidence has dipped for a second month in a row, Hyundai continues to buck this trend,” said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America’s vice president of national sales. “Consumer demand continues to significantly out-strip product availability at Hyundai dealerships. We remain very bullish about our prospects for the second half of this year as we substantially increase production to improve vehicle supply while launching four new products over the next five months.”

On a year-over-year basis, Elantra, Sonata and Tucson sales increased 34, 33 and 234 percent, respectively. Genesis sales continued at a brisk pace thanks in part to its mid-luxury segment-leading 53 percent residual value, exceeding such strong competitors as BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz S Class, Infiniti M37 and Lexus GS.

[Source: Hyundai]

READ MORE for the breakdown sales table of all cars in the line-up.

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Hyundai Announces New Elantra Launch in US for Later This Year

Hyundai has finally confirmed what's been rumored for months; that the all-new 2011 Avante, the predecessor of which we came to know as the Elantra, is heading to North American shores.

"The new compact sedan will also make its way to overseas markets including U.S. starting the end of the year," Hyundai said in an official statement, without disclosing any more details. Unless there's a change of plans, expect to see the firm's baby Sonata making its first public outing in the States at the Los Angeles Auto Show in mid-November.

Hyundai said that domestic deliveries of the new Avante, which went on sale in South Korea today priced from 14.9 million Won to 18.9 million Won (US$12,700 to US$16,100 based on today's currency exchange rates), are expected to reach 83,000 units by the end of the year, and surpass 125,000 cars in 2011.

The company added it expects to sell as much as 400,000 examples of the Avante / Elantra in overseas markets from 2012.

In South Korea, the 2011 Elantra is powered by a 1.6-liter four-banger with direct-injection delivering 140-horsepower and 171Nm or 126.5 lb-ft of peak torque, matted to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission.

[Source: Carscoop]

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