South Korean automakers have increased their market share in the United States thanks to a combination of marketing, pricing and solid products, AFP reported Thursday.
Once bit players in the crowded US market who were plagued by a reputation for poor quality, Hyundai and Kia have been steadily increasing their share for years now, according to AFP.
AFP said the two automakers have nearly doubled their share even as their total sales numbers have fallen.
Hyundai's share of the U.S. market has grown from 2.5 percent in October to 4.4 percent in June while Kia's share rose from 1.8 percent to 3.1 percent.
While they still trail the Detroit Three and most Japanese automakers, Hyundai and Kia sell more vehicles than top European brands like Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes, AFP said.
The showing is particularly impressive considering that the Korean manufacturers, unlike their Japanese rivals, have steered clear of the pickup truck segment, which accounts for one of every six vehicles sold in the United States.
The top six selling U.S. automakers ― GM, Toyota, Ford, Honda, Chrysler and Nissan ― all saw sales fall by between 32 and 45 percent in the first six months of the 2009.
Hyundai's sales, however, were only down 10.8 percent while Kia's losses were limited to 5.9 percent.