SUVs, EVs drive European sales of Hyundai, Kia vehicles up 9.3 percent on-year

Pictured is Hyundai Motor and Kia's headquarters in Seocho District, southern Seoul. [NEWS1]

Hyundai and its affiliate Kia's vehicle sales in Europe rose 9.3 percent from a year earlier last month, helped by sales of their SUV and electric models, the companies said Thursday.

Hyundai and Kia sold a total of 89,551 vehicles in Europe in October, up from 81,953 units sold a year ago, the companies said, citing data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).

Their sales accounted for 8.6 percent of the European passenger vehicle market in October following Volkswagen Group with a share of 24.8 percent, Stellantis' 17.4 percent and Renault Group's 9.9 percent, according to the ACEA data.

Despite the growth in sales, Hyundai Motor's October market share, however, fell 0.4 percentage points from the same month last year.

The companies' bestselling models included Hyundai's Tuscon and Kona SUVs and Kia's Sportage SUV and Niro EV.

Accumulated European sales of Hyundai and Kia in the January-October period came to 940,543, up 4 percent from the same period last year. Their combined market share during the cited period dropped 1 percentage point on-year to 8.8 percent.

BY KIM JU-YEON, YONHAP [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]