South Korea 2009: Avante #1, new Sonata sells 60,000 in 4 months

The new Hyundai Sonata launched in South Korea in September 2009.

* See the Top 50 best-selling local models by clicking on the title! Thanks to Pedro *

In 2009, the launch of the new generation Sonata messed up the rankings: the Hyundai Avante takes the lead over the Full Year with sales up 32% to an excellent 115,378 units and just under 10% market share, followed by the Kia Morning (aka Picanto) up 21% to  102,082 sales and 8.7%. The Hyundai NF Sonata loses its #1 spot and falls to third with 85,071 units and 7.2%, down 31%.

Hyundai Avante

However the new generation YF Sonata, launched in September 2009, is off to an amazing start with 61,255 sales in 4 months, including 16,368 in December (by far #1 then), making it #5 over the Full Year. The combined Sonata sales add up to 146,326 units which would place the nameplate #1 in 2009 by a very large margin.

Notice also the Hyundai Santa Fe up 35% and one spot to #7, the Kia Forte up 191% and 10 to #8, the Samsung SM3 up 139% and 5 to #10 and the Daewoo Lacetti Premiere (aka Chevrolet Cruze) up 1878% and 28 ranks to #11 with 43,962 sales. The Kia Sorento R lands directly at #12 with 39,173 units, the Hyundai Tucson ix arrives at #15 and the Daewoo Matiz Creative is #18.

Previous year: South Korea 2008: Hyundai Sonata clear leader, Kia Morning up to #3

Full Year Top 50 and December 2009 Top 10 Ranking Tables below.