Milestone: Hyundai Sold 200,000 Sonata's in 2010

Wonder why you’re seeing so many new Hyundai Sonata models on the road? Well, that’s because the Korean automaker sold a total of 200,000 units of the new Sonatas in North America in 2010, a huge milestone for the Sonata during a record-setting year in which Hyundai sold more than 530,000 vehicles in the United States and more than 110,000 in Canada.

“Sonata has delivered some pretty incredible results for us this year,” says John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO. “Sonata is the Hyundai brand and it’s appropriate that it has led our best year ever. Sonata’s innovation has reset the most hotly contested, largest segment in the U.S. car market, with Sonata delivering more year-over-year retail sales growth – about 90,000 units – than any other car in the entire industry.”

Sales of the Sonata in the stateside were up 117 percent and 65 percent overall in the U.S. marking its best year ever. Canadian sales were up 60 percent.

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Milestone: Hyundai Achieves 3 Million Sales in India

Hyundai Motor India Ltd., India's second largest car maker has achieved a remarkable milestone of reaching 3 million units in sales including exports. The automaker started its operations in 1996 and the first Santro rolled out during September 1998. Hyundai rapidly set up the factory in just 17 months and made another impressive achievement by becoming the second largest car maker in just 6 months.

Hyundai continued to achieve milestones by rolling out 150 000 units in 25 months. Hyundai is one of the most trusted brands in India with competitive service and reputed customer satisfaction.

HMIL now becomes the second manufacturer in India to achieve the distinction. HMIL is celebrating this special occasion with a unique initiative to ensure “peace of mind” for its customers.

The ‘Hyundai Triple Assurance Program’, a three-pronged nationwide scheme, will offer customers a host of incentives. The Triple Assurance Program includes the 'Maintenance Assurance Program’, ‘Motor Assurance Program’ and ‘Warranty Assurance Program’. The Hyundai Triple Assurance Program will be available to the buyers of the Santro and the i10, and will be available from 5th – 25th August, 2010.

[Source: Hyundai Motor India]

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Hyundai Sells 5 Million Sonatas Worldwide

“The five million mark is a testament to Hyundai’s continuous quality improvement, technological advancement and differentiated design,” said Steve S. Yang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor. “It’s Korea’s No. 1 sedan and now aims to be a game changer for the segment worldwide.”

Of the total, 2.7 million units were sold in Korea while 2.3 million were sold in overseas markets. The U.S. was the biggest market for Sonata outside Korea with 1.3 million cumulative sales. Sales of Sonata from overseas markets accounted for two-thirds of total sales this year, demonstrating the growing popularity of the latest version abroad.

When the cars are lined up bumper to bumper (overall length 4,820 mm), the length is equivalent to one round trip between Seoul and New York (one-way distance 11,000 km). When the cars are piled up (overall height 1,470 mm), the 5 million units are about 800 times the height of the Mount Everest (8,848m).

Sonata is now entering its sixth generation since its launch in 1985, gaining steady popularity worldwide as Hyundai’s leading sedan and competing head to head against Toyota’s Camry and Honda’s Accord.

[Source: Hyundai]

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Hyundai Builds One Millionth Car in the US

Hyundai has officially produced one million vehicles in the United States. Last week the company celebrated the milestone as a white 2010 Sonata rolled off the assembly line at its only U.S. plant in Montgomery, Alabama.

The milestone was reached in a relatively quick fashion, as the plant has been open a mere four and a half years. Alabama production of the fifth-generation Sonata started in May of 2006, while the second-generation Santa Fe began in April of 2006. The Sonata thus far has makes up roughly 66 percent of production while the Santa Fe accounts for 34 percent.

The Montgomery plant employs some 2700 workers and affects the region annually by $420 million. The plant will produce the all-new 2011 Sonata seen last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

[Source: Hyundai]

PRESS RELEASE: ONE MILLIONTH VEHICLE ROLLS OFF HYUNDAI MOTOR MANUFACTURING ALABAMA ASSEMBLY LINE

Montgomery, Ala., November 30, 2009 - Today, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) President and CEO H.I. Kim, drove HMMA's 1,000,000 vehicle - a 2010 Sonata - off the assembly line with Mayor Todd Strange, Hyo-Seung Kim, CEO and President of Sejong and HMMA Team Member Angela Collins joining him in Hyundai's top-selling vehicle in North America.
"Our guests of honor today are without a doubt the team members wearing the Hyundai logo on their chest," H.I. Kim proudly exclaimed to the crowd gathered for the ceremony. "We've over came many challenges since production began in 2005 and through it all our Team Members never turned away from those challenges. It is because of you that we were able to accomplish this tremendous milestone."

In a little more than four and one-half years, HMMA reached the 1,000,000 vehicle mark. The plant has produced two different vehicles since 2006, the Sonata and Santa Fe.

A total of 655,496 Sonatas and 344,504 Santa Fes were built to reach this achievement in the plant's short history.

"Most of you had never worked in automobile plant, but you embraced the opportunity to be trained to do a brand new job, with brand new equipment in a brand new manufacturing facility," explained Rick Neal, HMMA vice president and general counsel. "You learned to build cars in a very short time. Your vehicles have won numerous awards because you worked together as one team to build world class, high quality Hyundai vehicles. Congratulations to each and every one of you."

Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, who helped bring Hyundai to Alabama during his tenure as director of the Alabama Development Office, congratulated Team Members for reaching 1,000,000 vehicles and helping to expand the automotive manufacturing sector in Alabama. Mayor Strange was one of the first representatives from Alabama to meet with Hyundai executives. More than eight years ago, on Thanksgiving Day, he flew to Seoul, South Korea to lure the global company to Montgomery.

Carver Senior High School's Drum Line, under the direction of Stephen Langford, entertained everyone with a raucous performance as the 2010 Sonata traveled down the quality inspection line. Plus, team members enjoyed spraying confetti over the sedan as it exited the line.

HMMA started producing Sonatas in May 2005. Santa Fes were added to the assembly lines in April 2006. The plant is currently manufacturing the 2010 Santa Fe and will soon begin assembling the "all new" 2011 Sonata.

HMMA employs more than 2,700 team members and has an annual economic impact of $420 million on the River Region.

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