The Rise and Rise of Hyundai

In February 2010, new vehicle registrations were up 14.4% on the corresponding month in 2009.

There were some great increase which all bode well for the coming year, but bear in mind that some dealers are still delivering the vehicles which were ordered prior to December 2009, the final day of the 50% tax incentive.

Amongst the numbers were some notable improvements on 2009, most of which were on the back of small comparative numbers, like Ssangyong (127% up) Skoda (89%up) Proton (136%up) Lamborghini (133%up) Isuzu Ute (104%up) Jeep (73% up) Ferrari (66%up) Audi (35%) up.

However there is one notable standout in the volume players; Hyundai which improved on its 2009 February YTD performance by almost 71%, leaving it ahead of Ford and Mazda and only behind locals Toyota and Holden in the top 5.

Hyundai is the perfect proof that ‘if you build it, they will come’..just ask the boys at Mazda what they have done over the last few years.

Hyundai, once the butt of many jokes when Allan Bond first introduced the Korean brand to Australia, is now a major force, producing cars as stylish, safe and economical as any volume brand in the world.

The Hyundai i30 was a paradigm shift for the brand. European styling, 5 star safety, Japanese build quality, economical engines with modern lean diesels, 5 year warranty, this car is breathing down the neck of the Toyota Corolla and the new model Mazda 3 as Australia’s best selling small car.

Hyundai has just launched the sexy ix35 compact SUV and sold 231 in a matter of days and they have the i20, the Sonata replacement (i40?) and others to come this year, so it looks like there is still a lot of upside in the brand.

With the recall and safety issues at Toyota, this could not have come at a better time for the Big Korean, who I am sure has ambitions of grabbing the largest importer spot from Mazda and who knows where from there. Certainly, if they continue to build quality, safe economical, stylish cars, well priced for the mass market, where can they go wrong?