Hyundai, Kia expand presence in Chinese auto market

Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors Corp. saw their combined market share in China exceed 10 percent in March for the first time in three months, local data showed Friday.
  

According to the data compiled by a local dealership association, the two Korean carmakers sold a combined 161,553 cars last month in China, taking up 10.1 percent of the market. 
  

Hyundai Motor made up 6.4 percent of the market by selling 102,552 cars, while Kia Motors' market share stood at 3.7 percent as it sold 59,001 cars, the data showed.
  

It is the first time in three months that they posted a double-digit market share in China.
  

In December, their combined market share in China stood at 10.4 percent, but it stayed at 8.8 percent and 9.9 percent in January and February, respectively.
  

In terms of market shares, Hyundai came in fourth in China last month and Kia took the 10th spot.
  

Meanwhile, during the first quarter, the two carmakers sold a total of 440,514 cars, which represented a 9.5 percent market share.
  

Hyundai's and Kia's January-March sales came to 279,873 units and 160,641 units, respectively, the data showed. (Yonhap)