Hyundai USA sales increase 32 percent in March 2011

The 2011 opens up big for Hyundai Motor America as the carmaker achieves its best monthly sales as well as its best first quarter sales performances ever. People at Hyundai were ecstatic already in February this year when the company announced a monthly sales of 43.533 units. What they did not know at that time was that just 30 days later, they would sell 61,873 cars!

March 2011 was Hyundai’s best sales month ever with a 32 percent increase in sales compared to the same month a year ago. For 2011, Hyundai has already recorded a 28 percent sales increase in its first quarter, with retail volume up 46 percent. Sales to fleet accounts are down 31 percent for the year with fleet representing 13 percent of the total sales mix year-to-date and 11 percent for March.  

According to Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America’s executive vice president of national sales, last month was an unbelievably strong month for the brand. Demand from US consumers was comparable to Hyundai’s previous record-setting month, August 2009, when the high watermark for sales was set with the “Cash for Clunkers” program.

Hyundai’s sales last month were lead by two Alabama-made products, the mid-size Sonata sedan and Elantra car. The 2011 Hyundai Sonata was the automaker’s best-selling vehicle in March 2011 with a total of 22,894 units sold. The number represents a 45 percent increase compared to the same month a year ago when Hyundai sold 15.723 units of Sonata.

Second best-tseller in the Hyundai’s US line-up last month was the 2011 Elantra compact sedan, which experienced a huge jump from last March 2010′s sales of 8.225 units to last month’s 19,255. That is more than 150 percent increase, which is a fantastic result for just recently launched compact sedan.

According to Hyundai, Sonata and Elantra’s impressive numbers and excellent sales performance together accounted for 68 percent of Hyundai’s total sales volume last month!

The model, which experienced slower sales in comparison to last year was the Santa Fe SUV. With “only” 5.701 units sold in March the vehicle posted a big drop from last year’s sales of 9.548. Larger SUVs such as the Santa Fe consume relatively more fuel, and this could have affected the vehicle’s performance.

Last month’s underachiever was the Santa Fe. Just a few months about, it was Hyundai’s star. Last month in March, however, only 5,701 Santa Fe units were sold. A big drop in sales from last year’s 9,548. Big cars like the Santa Fe consume relatively more fuel, and this could have affected the Santa Fe’s performance.

On the other hand, the Santa Fe’s smaller sibling, the Tucson CUV has done a better job selling 4.508 units in March 2011 versus 3.084 units sold in March 2010. Hyundai Genesis luxury sedan continued the pace of other hot-selling Hyundai cars. The all-new Equus premium flagship continued to outpace sales objectives. With 241 units sold in March and 728 units since it was put on sale, the Hyundai flagship already acquired a six percent share of the premium luxury segment.

American consumers seem to appreciate Hyundai’s commitment to produce attractive, fuel-efficient and reliable cars, so you can expect the carmaker’s positive sales momentum to continue through the coming months!