Hyundai clinches Saudi taxi supply deal

South Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor announced Monday it has won an order to supply 1,000 Sonata airport taxis in Saudi Arabia, strengthening its foothold in the Middle East.

The country accounts for an estimated 40 percent of all vehicles sold in the Mideast, according to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency.

The company has signed a contract with the Saudi transportation company Al-Safwa to supply 1,000 new Sonata DN8 sedans.

The automaker delivered 100 vehicles to King Khalid International Airport on Dec. 22 in the presence of Saudi Minister of Transport Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser. The remaining 900 will be delivered before the year-end.

Hyundai sold 125,625 vehicles in the country, commanding 23.4 percent market share.

The deal came after Saudi authorities issued a new set of standards for taxis -- including, green and installing screens with transaction and interpretation functions.

“By responding preemptively to the changes in transport policies in Saudi Arabia, we will try to win more trust in the Middle East market,” a Hyundai official said.

By Kim Byung-wook (kim.byungwook@heraldcorp.com)