Hyundai Motor Co.'s locally produced subcompact model, the HB20, came in second in the Brazilian auto market in September in sales for the first time since its debut in late 2012, industry data showed Tuesday.
According to the data, South Korea's largest automaker sold 8,889 HB20 units in the South American country last month, trailing only General Motors' Chevrolet Onix subcompact.
Backed by brisk sales of the HB20, Hyundai Motor fared relatively well in the Brazilian auto market last month compared with other rivals.
Hyundai Motor sold 15,680 units there last month, down 21.7 percent from a year earlier, with a market share of 8.2 percent, up 1.1 percentage points over the cited period, the data showed.
The South Korean automaker came in fifth in market share.
Hyundai Motor expects demand for the locally produced HB20 subcompact to drive its overall sales in Brazil down the road.
The HB20, first launched in Brazil in 2012, has been one of the best-sellers in the market. Its cumulative sales reached around 470,000 units as of June. Hyundai Motor expects the figure to exceed 500,000 units by the end of the year. (Yonhap)