[Exclusive] Hyundai Motor Sales Reach 'World No. 3' for the First Time in History

Cumulative Sales of 5,032,045 Units from January to September This Year
Rank Rises Two Spots from 5th Last Year
Gap of About 1.26 Million Units with 2nd Place Volkswagen
Aggressive New Model Launches and Appropriate Semiconductor Supply Response

Hyundai Ioniq 5

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Hyundai Motor Group has ranked third globally in sales volume for the first time in history. This achievement came just one year after Chung Eui-sun took office as chairman of Hyundai Motor Group in October last year. ▷Related article page 3

According to global automotive statistics agency MarkLines and government data on the 2nd, Hyundai and Kia's cumulative global sales from January to September this year were tentatively tallied at 5,032,045 units. This ranks third worldwide, following Toyota Group (7,375,705 units) and Volkswagen Group (6,299,765 units). This is the first time Hyundai Motor Group has ranked third in global sales volume statistics.

Stellantis and the Renault-Nissan Alliance followed with 4,881,153 units and 4,629,733 units respectively. GM Group ranked sixth with 4,500,379 units.

During the same period last year, Hyundai and Kia ranked fifth globally behind Toyota, Volkswagen, Renault-Nissan Alliance, and GM, but this year they jumped two places. This is the result of selling nearly 700,000 more units than the previous year's same period sales volume (4,363,281 units). The gap with second-place Volkswagen narrowed from about 1.8 million units to about 1.26 million units. However, the gap with first-place Toyota widened from about 1.9 million units last year to about 2.34 million units this year, as Toyota increased sales in major markets such as the United States.

Hyundai Motor Group's strong performance is notable as it overcame unprecedented crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the global semiconductor shortage. Aggressive new model launches across all lineups including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), sedans, and eco-friendly vehicles proved highly effective, and the group also relatively succeeded in defending production volume through parts and semiconductor inventory management.

In particular, vehicles launched by Hyundai Motor Group this year have received consecutive high praise in major overseas markets, improving consumer perception of Hyundai and Kia and creating a virtuous cycle of new model launches and increased sales. Professor Ho-geun Lee of Daeduk College's Department of Automotive Studies said, "Hyundai Motor Group is actively responding to semiconductor supply issues while also improving the quality of new models, gaining favorable responses in global markets including the United States and Europe."