Hyundai hits milestone with 10 million cars sold in US
Fri, Oct 30 2015 Hyundai entered the US market in 1986, and initial success with the Excel was followed by a difficult period of quality woes. The company refused to bow out of the country, and began a turnaround. Now after nearly 30 years, the automaker is a highly respected player in the market and is celebrating the milestone of selling its 10 millionth vehicle in the US.Amazingly, just five models make up nearly 85 percent of Hyundai's lifetime US sales, and unsurprisingly the Scoupe isn't one of them. The brand's bestselling model in that time is the Sonata with nearly 2.5 million examples on the road and 24.98 percent of the company's total volume. At 24.85 percent of deliveries, the Elantra barely squeezes into second place, and the Santa Fe is a somewhat distant third with about 1.25 million deliveries. Rounding out the top five are the Excel – Hyundai's first US model – at 11.47 percent and the Accent at 11.03 percent.
Since opening in 2005, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama has been responsible for a healthy portion of those 10 million total sales by assembling 2.66 million vehicles, including the Sonata and Elantra. "About 56 percent of the cars Hyundai sells in the United States are made here," company President and CEO Dave Zuchowski said in the milestone's announcement.
Take a look at where Hyundai is today and at some of its vintage models in the gallery above. With volume up consecutively for the last seven years, it probably won't take another three decades for the automaker to celebrate the 20 million mark.
Milestone Marks Automaker's Continued Investment in U.S. Market and Economy
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 28, 2015 – Hyundai marked a monumental milestone today, selling its 10 millionth vehicle in the United States. Having started in 1986 with a single nameplate, reaching 10 million sales is a significant achievement that showcases the success of Hyundai's continually expanding lineup.
"The United States has been a key region of focus for nearly three decades, and this landmark achievement comes after years of accelerated growth and the strategic rollout of our product line," said Derrick Hatami, vice president of national sales, Hyundai Motor America. "Today serves as a testament to the design, quality and value of Hyundai's product portfolio. The American car market continues to be on the rise, with more than 17 million new car sales expected in 2015. Hyundai is well positioned for continued growth in this market, offering consumers a variety of vehicles that meet their needs."
Hyundai entered the United States market in 1986 with the subcompact Excel, and with very little awareness of the Hyundai brand or its products, customer response was immediate — Hyundai sold 168,882 Excels right out of the gate. Within seven months, Hyundai sold its 100,000th Excel, helping to set an industry record for the most first-year sales for an import car company.
Hyundai has since demonstrated its high-velocity growth by achieving increased year-over-year sales volume for the past seven consecutive years. Hyundai has been one of the fastest-growing automobile companies in America, due to its current lineup of Accent, Azera, Elantra, Equus, Genesis, Genesis Coupe, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Sport, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, Sonata PHEV, Tucson and Veloster. This diverse lineup incorporates new levels of quality, safety, performance and luxury, all while retaining Hyundai's legacy for great value.
Ten years ago, Hyundai expanded its operations to include building cars in the United States when it opened the doors of its Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) plant in 2005. Through today, HMMA has built 2,660,314 vehicles, including two of Hyundai's all-time best-selling models: Sonata, which comprises 64 percent of total production at HMMA, and Elantra with 23 percent.
"This special milestone of hitting 10 million sales in the United States exemplifies that Hyundai is part of the American fabric," said Dave Zuchowski, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. "Our plant in Alabama provides jobs to nearly 3,000 Alabama residents and contributes approximately $4 billion to the state's economy each year. Also, about 56 percent of the cars Hyundai sells in the United States are made here."
Hyundai shocked the automotive industry in 1998 when it introduced its warranty program, which is known today as Hyundai Assurance or America's Best Warranty. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the United States are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000 mile fully transferable bumper-to-bumper warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai also challenged the industry in 2011 with the introduction of Blue Link®, the telematics platform exclusive to Hyundai models.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai Blue Link Connected Care provides owners of Hyundai models equipped with the Blue Link telematics system with proactive safety and car care services complimentary for one year with enrollment. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and in-vehicle service scheduling.
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 28, 2015 – Hyundai marked a monumental milestone today, selling its 10 millionth vehicle in the United States. Having started in 1986 with a single nameplate, reaching 10 million sales is a significant achievement that showcases the success of Hyundai's continually expanding lineup.
"The United States has been a key region of focus for nearly three decades, and this landmark achievement comes after years of accelerated growth and the strategic rollout of our product line," said Derrick Hatami, vice president of national sales, Hyundai Motor America. "Today serves as a testament to the design, quality and value of Hyundai's product portfolio. The American car market continues to be on the rise, with more than 17 million new car sales expected in 2015. Hyundai is well positioned for continued growth in this market, offering consumers a variety of vehicles that meet their needs."
Road to 10 Million: Top Five Nameplates
Model |
Percentage of Sales |
No. of Units |
Best-Selling Year |
24.98% |
2,498,203 |
2012 |
|
24.85% |
2,484,788 |
2013 |
|
12.45% |
1,244,934 |
2004 |
|
Excel |
11.47% |
1,146,962 |
1987 |
11.03% |
1,103,337 |
2001 |
Hyundai entered the United States market in 1986 with the subcompact Excel, and with very little awareness of the Hyundai brand or its products, customer response was immediate — Hyundai sold 168,882 Excels right out of the gate. Within seven months, Hyundai sold its 100,000th Excel, helping to set an industry record for the most first-year sales for an import car company.
Hyundai has since demonstrated its high-velocity growth by achieving increased year-over-year sales volume for the past seven consecutive years. Hyundai has been one of the fastest-growing automobile companies in America, due to its current lineup of Accent, Azera, Elantra, Equus, Genesis, Genesis Coupe, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Sport, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, Sonata PHEV, Tucson and Veloster. This diverse lineup incorporates new levels of quality, safety, performance and luxury, all while retaining Hyundai's legacy for great value.
Ten years ago, Hyundai expanded its operations to include building cars in the United States when it opened the doors of its Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) plant in 2005. Through today, HMMA has built 2,660,314 vehicles, including two of Hyundai's all-time best-selling models: Sonata, which comprises 64 percent of total production at HMMA, and Elantra with 23 percent.
"This special milestone of hitting 10 million sales in the United States exemplifies that Hyundai is part of the American fabric," said Dave Zuchowski, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. "Our plant in Alabama provides jobs to nearly 3,000 Alabama residents and contributes approximately $4 billion to the state's economy each year. Also, about 56 percent of the cars Hyundai sells in the United States are made here."
Hyundai shocked the automotive industry in 1998 when it introduced its warranty program, which is known today as Hyundai Assurance or America's Best Warranty. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the United States are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000 mile fully transferable bumper-to-bumper warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai also challenged the industry in 2011 with the introduction of Blue Link®, the telematics platform exclusive to Hyundai models.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai Blue Link Connected Care provides owners of Hyundai models equipped with the Blue Link telematics system with proactive safety and car care services complimentary for one year with enrollment. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and in-vehicle service scheduling.
By Chris Bruce
See also: Hyundai crashes two Sonatas in public to prove a point about safety, Hyundai Genesis Coupe joins the SEMA fray, Hyundai Tucson Adventuremobile ready for camping at SEMA.