Korea Output, Domestic Sales Up in First-Half 2014

TOKYO – Korean automakers produced 2,342,542 vehicles in their home market between January and June, up 2.6% from last year's 6-month total, the Korean Auto Manufacturers Assn. reports.

Of the total, 2,138,586 were cars and 203,956 commercial vehicles.

In full-year 2013 production grew marginally to 4,521,429 units, including 4,122,604 cars and 398,825 commercial vehicles.

Domestic sales of 712,800 units in the January-June period were up 5.3% from same-2013, the association says.

By manufacturer, Hyundai claimed a 49.0% share on sales of 346,434 units, followed by Kia, 30.9% (218,764); GM Korea, 10.2% (71,958); Renault Samsung, 5.2% (36,977); and Ssangyong, 4.7% (33,235).

Exports inched up 0.6%, to 1,599,883 units.

The Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Assn. says imports climbed 39.2% during first-half 2014 to 17,803 units. BMW (3,358), Volkswagen (3,010), Mercedes-Benz (2,907) and Audi (2,728) accounted for two-thirds of the total.