Hyundai Fires U.S. Sales Chief

Hyundai Motor Co. has fired Derrick Hatami, 44, who had led its sales effort in the U.S. since September 2015, Automotive News reports.

Hatami’s departure follows last December’s firing of U.S. CEO Dave Zuchowski. The company has a long history of replacing executives in North America when sales falter.

U.S. demand for Hyundai vehicles grew 2% in a flat market. But the company’s sales have trailed year-ago volumes for the past six months, according to Autodata Corp. Deliveries through the first five months of 2017 were down 5% in a market that shrank 2%.

AN says Hyundai’s sales have been hurt in part by a deliberate decision to reduce fleet sales. The company also is struggling with a continuing mismatch between the brand’s car-heavy product lineup and an American market that is clamoring for SUV/crossover vehicles.

Hyundai says Sam Brnovich, general manager of Hyundai’s southern regional district, will fill in for Hatami until the company finds a successor.