April 2, 2001 - - Exports Lead Sales Increase for Hyundai Motor Company Increasing exports continue to lead HMC`s overall improved performance so far in 2001 with first quarter totals more than six per cent up on the same period last year. In March HMC exported 82,707 vehicles - 12.5 per cent up on February`s figure of 73,529 and 11.3 per cent up on the same month last year when 74,279 vehicles were exported. For the first three months exports totaled 216,706 compared to 187,095 in the first quarter of 2000. Overall figure up Overall sales for March reached 144,351 compared to 124,532 in February representing a 15.9 per cent increase. The figure also represented an increase of 8.7 per cent over the total for March last year of 132,827. In the first quarter total sales reached 371,268, a 6.4 per cent increase over the same period last year when total sales amounted to 349,037. Domestic sales were also up in March at 61,644. That was a 20.9 per cent increase over February`s total of 51,004 and a 5.3 per cent increase over March last year when the figure was 58,548. Over the first three months domestic sales of 154,562 are still slightly down on the same period in 2000 of 161,942. Domestic passenger car sales are still slightly down compared to last year. In the first quarter 77,462 vehicles were sold compared to 79,843. However, RV and SUV sales are up by 3.6 per cent from 26,526 in the first quarter of 200 to 27,478 this year. Commercial vehicles down Bus and truck sales are also down on the domestic market during the first quarter of this year by 10 per cent and 11.3 per cent respectively. Bus sales in the first quarter amounted to 22,653 compared to 25,178 and truck sales were 26,969 compared to 30,395. However, both categories saw increases in volume compared to February and the overall commercial vehicle sales figure is only 10.7 per cent behind the same period in 2000 with 49,622 vehicles registered compared to 55,573.
