South Korea June 2012: Hyundai Santa Fe in pole position!

Hyundai Santa Fe

* See the Top 40 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Sales of new local cars in South Korea are down 3% year-on-year in June to 123,403 units, bringing the year-to-date total to 690,146 units, down 8% on 2011. Massive change in the models ranking: the new generation Hyundai Santa Fe takes the lead as early as for its first full month of sales with a brilliant 10,423 sales and 8.4% share. Talk about instant success!  Last month I had predicted the Santa Fe could have a serious shot at the #1 spot in the coming months and for the first time since 2004 and it has happened already!

As a result the Hyundai Avante is #2 this month but stays comfortably on top year-to-date with 55,147 sales and 8% share. Good holding of the Kia Morning at #3 with 8,774 units and 7.1%, while the Hyundai Sonata, #1 last month, is down to #4. The Hyundai Porter is up 2 spots to #5, the Kia K5 down 2 to #6 and the Hyundai Grandeur down one to #7.

Further down, notice the Kia Sorento up 4 spots to #13, the Hyundai Genesis up 6 to #20, the Kia K9 stable at #21 for its second month in market with 1,703 sales and the facelifted SsangYong Rexton W back into the Top 40 at #33. Brandwise, Samsung falls to a new low and is passed by SsangYong this month to rank #5 and last local brand…

Previous month: South Korea May 2012: New gen Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia K9 land

One year ago: South Korea June 2011: Hyundai Avante back to #1, new Samsung QM5 up

Full June 2012 Top 40 Ranking Table below.