July 3^rd, 2003

Getz pushes the sales upswing 

WITH its second successive best-ever sales month in June, Hyundai’s Getz hatchback with 1273 sales topped May’s 1049 record as Hyundai continued its resurgence with 3260 sales.

Its best month for a year allowed Hyundai to tighten its grip on seventh position, which it reclaimed from Subaru and Honda in May when its monthly sales passed 3000 for the first time since July 2002.

In year-to-date sales, Hyundai overtook Honda in June to claim eighth place outright in the total automotive market, despite not marketing commercial vehicles.

Accent also had its second successive best sales month at 584 since its March re-launch with its bigger 1.6 litre engine, sharper styling and other upgrades. At $15,490 driveaway with free air, Accent is the market’s biggest and most powerful car under $16,000.

Elantra’s 894 sales tally was its best since December 2001 as it continues to offer the most car under $20,000 at driveaway pricing.

Terracan’s 128 sales were its best for a year and Tiburon’s 27 were its best since last October, both benefitting from Hyundai’s recent sharpened pricing on all its upper segment and V6 models.

“Hyundai’s second successive monthly sales upsurge was typically mostly private buyer-oriented and was achieved in a month boosted by end-of-financial-year fleet sales,” said Theo van Doore, Hyundai Automotive Distributors Australia’s director of sales and marketing.

“More competitive pricing across our whole range, our new management team and marketing direction and our refocused dealers are all combining to re-interest buyers in the excellence and value of our model lineup.”