Paradigm Shift?: Hyundai's New Growth Target Should Scare the Big Three

Hyundai-Kia is targeting U.S. sales of 910,000 units this year, the world's sixth largest automotive group said yesterday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Hyundai Motor Co. plans to raise sales by 21 percent from last year to 550,000 vehicles, including the Veracruz sport utility vehicle it will begin sell in May.

Affiliate Kia Motors Corp. is aiming at a 22.3 percent increase to 360,000 units by adding the New Carens (called Rondo abroad) crossover utility vehicle and the New Opirus (Amanti) sedan to its U.S. lineup.

Hyundai unveiled the seven-passenger Veracruz midsize crossover yesterday in Detroit, targeting annual sales of 50,000 units in North America.

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Minion3d - 1/9/2007 4:03:30 PM

+2 Boost

i am sure success will catch up with Hyundai and they will go the way of Honda and Toyota as far as pricing, but for now, new buyers would be foolish not to capitalize on any of Hyundai's great cars and SUVs.

rocker - 1/9/2007 4:46:56 PM

0 Boost

Oh I thought it was going to say that Detroit should follow in the way that Hyundai handles their union issues. Fire hoses, tear gas and lawsuits against the union leaders, maybe next they will try live ammo and public hangings. Hyundai is a rotten company and needs to concentrate on internal issues first. And they need some original ideas and designs.

jimbo87 - 1/9/2007 7:37:14 PM

+1 Boost

I sure hope you're joking!If you look at the numbers the Hyundai group would have to increase it's sales by 40%(in a shrinking market where Hyundai will face competition from low price Chinese competitiors) each year without Toyota gaining anything to pass them.That prediction is off probably by 10 years if it ever happens at all.

Anthony - 1/10/2007 2:38:59 AM

+2 Boost

Of course Will was joking. But Will, wasn't that article you're mocking from 2004? That would mean they have only 2 years to go...

neutral - 1/9/2007 8:30:49 PM

0 Boost

If anyone should be the least bit scared, it should be Honda and Toyota (and to a lesser extent, Nissan). The tables have turned (if you ask me) against them in the auto-market. The Koreans went from offering really cheap junk to offering rather great, reasonably priced cars. Not only the Koreans, the US manufacturers (especially GM) have come out to steal sales from the traditional Japanese "bread-and-butter" vehicles. It's a good thing for Toyota and Honda that their cars have such great reputations, the competition used to almost not exist. Now, between the Ford Fusion, the Chevy Malibu, Saturn Aura, Chrysler Sebring/Avenger and the Hyundai Sonata, the Accord and Camry no longer can say that their reputations are the undeniable best. Crazy thing is, we have the Japanese to thank (I admit it, I hate saying this) for the upsurge in domestic (and Korean) quality and product range. If it wasn't for them giving us (the domestics) a ton of competition, we may not be trying nearly as hard.

neutral - 1/9/2007 8:38:45 PM

+2 Boost

Also, by the way, the NAIAS is very cool. I suggest you all go if you can. I went to press preview and will be going to industry preview to catch what I missed.

JUGNU - 1/10/2007 3:50:05 AM

+2 Boost

Yes neutral i agree with u on some points.

BTW Every manufacture and coustomer have to thank Toyota to set the standards and raise them with time.
Whether it's economical basic cars,family cars,luxury cars,hybrids and possibly with the IS-F and LF-A the performance/super Car category too.

TOYOTA FOR LIFE........Setting Standards(believe or not)

JUGNU