Hyundai Motor Company has announced best ever sales figures for the Middle East region in 2011, with a 9 per cent increase in total sales in comparison to 2010, selling a record 283,953 vehicles.

Bahrain-based First Motors, Hyundai Motor Company’s retail partner, who operates under the Al Zayani Investment Group, reported a 4 per cent growth in sales.

The new Accent led sales numbers on the island with 1,101 units sold, a huge 2,100 per cent increase on the previous year, followed by the Tucson SUV, which sold 869 units, said a statement from Hyundai. 

Among the other GCC and Levant countries, the Korean manufacturer’s record achievements were led by Qatar, which reported the biggest increase by a single country with sales up by 93 per cent. They were followed by Kuwait, which registered a 76 per cent sales growth, while Lebanon saw sales leap by 35 per cent.

There was significant growth in Saudi Arabia, which experienced an 18 per cent rise in sales to over 106,699 units. The UAE and Yemen also registered increased sales, while Syria, Jordan and Oman remain Hyundai’s biggest volume markets after Saudi Arabia.

When it came to the buyer’s choice of model, Hyundai’s 2011 sales were led by the Elantra, with total sales of this compact class car across the GCC and Levant reached 72,980 units.

The second biggest seller was the Accent, with total sales of 60,322 units, the statement said.

The Centennial and Genesis represent Hyundai’s line-up of luxury models, embodying the company’s new Modern Premium approach. Combined sales of these two models in 2011 were up by 90 per cent, demonstrating growing consumer interest in the company’s high-end cars.

Hyundai’s SUV line-up, the Tucson, Santa Fe and Veracruz, also performed well, with sales up 4 per cent, it said.

Tom Lee, head of Hyundai, Middle East’s regional headquarters, said: “Across the GCC and Levant countries, customers have shown their confidence in our new range of ‘Modern Premium’ cars in growing numbers. While our SUV line-up continues to perform strongly across the region, new models such as the Elantra, Sonata, Veloster and Accent, together with our flagship luxury cars, the Centennial and Genesis, are introducing the Hyundai brand into increasing numbers of homes.” – TradeArabia News Service