HYUNDAI TAKES NUMBER ONE IN UK

.    Hyundai outsells Ford to top retail sales charts in August
.    Record market share; sales up 323%
.    i10 overtakes Corsa to become third best seller in UK

Official car sales figures released today are set to send shockwaves
through the industry. Hyundai sold more cars to retail customers in
August than any other brand, overtaking Ford and Vauxhall.
The figures, which would have seemed inconceivable a few months ago,
show that Hyundai’s overall sales for the month rose 323% compared to
August last year to 3,737. It gives Hyundai a record overall market
share of 5.6%.

The i10 city car has been the company’s biggest success, with 2,431
finding homes in August. This makes it Britain’s third best selling car,
relegating the Vauxhall Corsa to fourth place.
Remove fleet sales from the equation and the i10’s achievement is even
more impressive. The city car is not only the most popular model bought
by retail customers, but it outsold the second placed car by a factor of
more than two to one!

Hyundai’s managing director, Tony Whitehorn, said: “These are truly
historic figures for Hyundai. There are now thousands of happy new
Hyundai drivers, and these owners’ recommendations will become our best
advertising. It will ensure that Hyundai’s success continues years to
come.”

Although the August figures are amazing, many Hyundai buyers chose to
delay registering their new cars until September, allowing them to have
a car wearing the new ’59’ registration numbers. This means that
Hyundai’s sales figures this month are set to be even more impressive.

“We are well on the way to making September the best ever month for
sales in the company’s history” said Mr Whitehorn. “Our dealers have
taken on an average of 20% more staff to cope with demand.”