Automobiles are parked for export at a dock within the nation’s southeastern metropolis of Ulsan on this undated photograph. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor
Hyundai Motor and Kia set a brand new document in exports of eco-friendly autos in 2024, pushed by the profitable diversification of their gross sales territories, the carmakers stated Tuesday.
The 2 corporations offered a mixed complete of greater than 707,000 hybrid and electrical autos (EVs) within the world market final yr, in keeping with their gross sales estimates. This marks their largest annual export, a rise of three p.c from a yr earlier.
The achievement was pushed by sturdy gross sales in North America and Europe. In keeping with the carmakers, their eco-friendly automobile exports to key North American markets, particularly the US, Canada and Mexico, accounted for 55.6 p.c of complete abroad gross sales. Exports to Europe got here in second with 18.7 p.c, adopted by 9.1 p.c within the Asia-Pacific.
Amongst Hyundai Motor’s fashions, the Tucson Hybrid compact SUV topped the listing with 93,500 autos exported throughout the identical interval. The Kona Hybrid subcompact SUV got here in second with gross sales of greater than 70,000. The carmaker’s flagship IONIQ 5 EV rounded out the highest three with over 68,000.
For Kia, the Niro Hybrid SUV emerged as essentially the most exported automobile, with greater than 69,500 gross sales overseas final yr. The EV6 was additionally the carmaker’s hottest EV worldwide, with Kia promoting some 42,480 EV6 autos outdoors Korea throughout the identical interval. The Sportage Hybrid SUV got here in third with 38,297.
Of specific observe was the stable export development of hybrid autos. The 2 carmakers exported greater than 397,000 hybrids in 2024, up 44.6 p.c from the earlier yr. This accounts for round 56 p.c of their complete eco-friendly automobile exports. This was pushed by prospects‘ rising desire for autos with robust gas effectivity forward of mass adoption of EVs.
Their mixed exports had been price $53.36 billion (78 trillion gained) final yr, accounting for round 7.8 p.c of the nation’s complete exports. The carmakers’ exports additionally made up round 75 p.c of Korea’s complete automobile exports.
By section, SUVs had been the most well-liked, accounting for nearly 70 p.c of the 2 corporations’ complete exports throughout the identical interval. Hyundai Motor’s Avante compact sedan was additionally hailed because the bestselling export mannequin, with its abroad gross sales reaching 231,000.
Each corporations have offered greater than 56 million autos in non-Korean territories since 1975.
“We’ll proceed to strengthen our model competitiveness and construct a extra versatile manufacturing and gross sales construction,” a Hyundai Motor official stated.
“We will even widen investments right here to contribute extra to boosting Korea’s total exports.”
