Hyundai, Kia to focus on selling SUVs, minivans in U.S.

SEOUL, March 20 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. said Tuesday they will further focus on selling crossovers and minivans in the United States this year to boost their overall performance.

In the January-February period, Hyundai and Kia sold a combined 77,067 SUVs and minivans, accounting for 47 percent of their total sales of 163,637 vehicles in the world's most important automobile market, the companies' sales data showed.

For the whole of 2017, they sold 1.28 million units, of which, 46 percent were SUVs and minivans. The percentage was up from 43 percent a year earlier, the data said.

As their sales in the first two months fell 8 percent from 177,826 autos on-year, the two carmakers plan to launch their new upgraded models in the U.S. market to drive up sales this year.

Hyundai plans to launch the Kona subcompact SUV in the first half and the all-new Santa Fe SUV before the summer holiday season. Kia is moving to introduce its upgraded Sorento SUV and Niro electric vehicle this year.

Hyundai and Kia together form the world's fifth-biggest carmaker by sales.

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