Hyundai surges up in first quarter

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), distributor of Hyundai passenger cars and commercial vehicles, reported sales of 9,949 units in the first quarter of 2019. This represents a substantial increase of 12.5 percent versus sales of 8,847 units for the same period last year. For March 2019 alone, HARI sold 3,412 units or a six percent increase from March 2018.

Despite phasing out the Eon in 2018, Hyundai remains confident that the release of the all-new Accent and Reina will reinvigorate and maintain its position as the brand’s main volume drivers for passenger cars. For light commercial vehicles, a large portion of its 70 percent growth can be attributed to strong demand for the Kona Crossover, which now accounts for 24 percent of HARI’s LCV business, and the versatile H-100, which contributes 44 percent. Hyundai’s Trucks and Buses Commercial Vehicle (CV) business more than doubled over the period, growing by 106 percent.

Hyundai hopes to continue this upward trend over the next three quarters with recently unveiled pioneering vehicles at the Manila International Auto Show. HARI introduced the much-awaited, first ever full-size SUV of Hyundai, the Palisade, winner of the prestigious Red Dot Award 2019 for Cars and Motorcycles. In the same event, the brand also launched the first fully electric SUV in the Philippines, the Kona EV.

HARI is likewise serious about making its mark in Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) as part of its focused efforts to bring Hyundai’s premium eco-friendly PC models to the mainstream, in response to the ever-growing concern about climate change.