Hyundai Motor's Grandeur becomes top-selling hybrid car of year

Hyundai Motor’s fully revamped Grandeur sedan [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Hyundai Motor's Grandeur sedan maintained the top spot in the Korean hybrid car market throughout most of 2023, Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association data showed.

Grandeur's hybrid variant sold 57,107 units from January to November, representing 198.8 percent sales growth from the same period in 2022, the data showed Friday.

Sales of the variant accounted for 54.6 percent of the total 104,652 Grandeur units sold during the period, marking the first time it accounted for over half of Grandeur sales.

When combining its hybrid and gasoline variant sales, the Grandeur is poised to become the top-selling car model in Korea for 2023.

Kia's SUV Sorento came in second, with its hybrid variant selling 51,818 units during the period, followed by Kia's Sportage and K8 hybrid models selling 29,330 and 24,240 units, respectively. Hyundai's Tucson hybrid variant came in fifth, selling 17,256 units.

The total number of hybrid vehicles sold in Korea during the first eleven months of the year amounted to 335,211 units, according to the association.

"Hybrid car production in Korea is expected to increase next year thanks to the growing performance of hybrid model sales in the country," an industry watcher said.

BY SEO JI-EUN, YONHAP [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]