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SUVs Claim 42% of Sales in South Korea

SUV/crossover vehicles captured a record 42% of South Korea’s passenger car market through the first five months of the year.
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SUV/crossover vehicles captured a record 42% of South Korea’s passenger car market through the first five months of the year.

Carmakers sold 612,000 vehicles in January-May, according to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Assn. KAMA predicts SUVs will surpass 50% of the market by year-end.

Korea’s domestic carmakers—Hyundai, Kia, GM Korea, Renault Samsung and SsangYong Motor—sold a combined 522,100 vehicles through the first five months of 2019. SUVs comprised 43% of that total.

Market leader Hyundai-Kia plans to introduce three new crossover models in July, The Korea Herald notes. They are the entry-level Hyundai Venue and Kia Seltos, and the luxury Genesis GV80.

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