Elantra Retail Sales Soar to Never-Before-Seen Heights

Elantra owners happier with real-life fuel economy than all competitive owners in segment

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Dec 06, 2011, 02:15 ET

COSTA MESA, Calif., Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As Hyundai eclipses the 600,000 annual sales mark for the first time in its 25-year U.S. history, one super-hot product is leading the way.

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Hyundai has already sold more Elantras in North America this year than it ever has (216,331 v. 151,735, a 43 percent increase), a high point for the Elantra model line in a record-setting year for Hyundai in both the U.S. and Canada. And in the U.S. alone, Elantra sedan retail sales are up an incredible 91 percent this year compared with 2010.

"Elantra has been an absolute phenomenon in the compact car segment," says John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America President and CEO. "In November, Elantra retail sales were up 37 percent, in spite of significant competition from all-new entries such as the Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus and Honda Civic."

In Canada, too, the Elantra has had a record year. By the end of November, Elantra already has achieved its best-ever year of sales and was a major factor in helping the company achieve year-over-year sales gains for 35 consecutive months.

"The Elantra continues to fuel record sales in Canada," says Steve Kelleher, President and CEO of Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. "Elantra's Fluidic Sculpture design, advanced safety features and fuel efficiency make it the perfect car in our market."

Fuel Economy Leadership for All

Hyundai made a bold decision to engineer all Elantra sedan models to achieve 40 mpg on the highway, regardless of trim level. In fact, for 2011, Elantra sedan alone leads all competitive manufacturers' 40+ mpg models on an entire line-up basis, an impressive feat for a single model. Elantra's high market penetration ensures that its net positive impact on the environment is based on more than just the low volumes of sophisticated but expensive powertrain technologies of its key competitors.

And no customers in the compact car segment are as happy with their real-world fuel economy as Elantra owners as measured in a recent JD Power APEAL story that examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, easily out-pacing strong competitors like the Ford Focus, Chevy Cruze and Honda Civic.

Residual Value

Elantra has also won the ALG residual value award in the Compact Car segment for the second year in a row in the U.S. ALG, the industry benchmark for residual values and depreciation data, annually recognizes automakers' outstanding achievements in producing new vehicles that are predicted to retain the highest percentage of their original price, after a conventional three-year period. Customers are finding comfort in the fact that their Elantra is going to be worth more in three years from now than any other car in the segment.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance and the Hyundai Trade-in Value Guarantee. Hyundai is a registered trademark of Hyundai Motor Company. All rights reserved. ©2011 Hyundai Motor America.

HYUNDAI AUTO CANADA

Hyundai Auto Canada, established in 1983 and headquartered in Markham Ontario, is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout Canada by Hyundai Auto Canada and are sold and serviced through more than 200 dealerships nationwide.

Journalists are invited to visit our news media web site: www.hyundainews.com and follow us on Twitter: @Hyundai.com

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America