Carmakers set optimistic goals despite slowdown

Korean and foreign automakers have set higher domestic sales targets for 2007 despite concerns about slower economic growth, industry sources said yesterday.
Carmakers said they aimed to attract customers to showrooms by rolling out new models, highlighting quality and style improvements and strengthening marketing efforts.
Hyundai Motor Co., the country’s No. 1 automaker, said it aims for sales growth of 8.4 percent this year from 2006. The company said domestic sales may top 13 trillion won ($13.8 billion), with 630,000 cars sold by year’s end. Hyundai said it will customize its customer relations to meet needs and link sales with its strong aftersales service.
Kia Motors Corp., an affiliate of Hyundai, said it planned to secure 27 percent of Korea’s local market by selling 324,000 units, up from around 270,000 last year. It said new models of steady sellers like the Opirus, Cerato and Carens could attract buyers.
Daewoo Motor Sales also said it aims to boost sales 5.2 percent, or by 7,000 automobiles, in the new year to 144,000, adding demand for buses and commercial trucks could help.
The sales arm of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. said consumer reaction to its Tosca sedans and Winstorm SUVs was good, and it expects demand to be solid for these and other auto in the coming months.
Ssangyong Motor Co., hit hard by falling sales in recent years, said it wanted to sell 66,000 cars in 2007, up 10,000 from the year before.
Foreign carmakers have also set high targets this year with Nissan Korea aiming to increase sales 40 percent to 2,400. Luxury German carmakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz said they expected to sell 6,600 and 5,500 cars, respectively, to well-heeled Korean customers, while Volkswagen has raised its sales target to 4,500 from 3,650 last year.
At the end of December, imported vehicles reached 225,000 units, up 49,000 from 2005 and representing 1.42 percent of all registered vehicles.