By Lee Hyo-sik
Domestic automakers and imported car brands saw their sales here jump by double digits in September on the launch of new models and lower consumption taxes levied on automobiles.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Thursday, the country’s five automakers and importers of foreign brand vehicles sold a total of 149,327 vehicles in September, up 16.3 percent from the same month last year.
Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, GM Korea, Renault Samsung Motor and Ssangyong Motors produced a combined 333,759 vehicles last month, up 13.5 percent from a year earlier, despite a partial strike by unionized workers at Hyundai, Korea’s largest automaker.
The five carmakers also shipped a total of 203,762 vehicles to foreign markets on the back of the growing overseas demand for made-in-Korea sedans and sports utility vehicles, which was up 3.5 percent.
The ministry said Korean consumers purchased 24,323 cars from BMW, Volkswagen and other foreign car brands, up 37 percent from a year earlier.
“The consumption tax cut by 30 percent, which went into effect on Aug. 27, has encouraged consumers to purchase more vehicles in September,” a ministry official said. “Automakers operating plants here and importers of foreign cars introduced many new models, sparking a great deal of consumer interests in automobiles. We think the sales will likely further pick up in the fourth quarter.”
According to the ministry, Kia Motors’ overseas production rose 33.2 percent to 116,556 in September from a year earlier, while Hyundai Motor plants around the world manufactured a total of 271,568 cars, up 13.3 percent.
Korea exported auto parts worth $2.1 billion, up 5 percent, as auto parts makers here shipped more to Hyundai and Kia plants.