Hyundai Motor Company, the Korean automotive manufacturer, sold 165,472 units in the region during the first half of the year, marking a two per cent increase in sales and the company’s best ever first six months of sales.

The Gulf countries led the way, with all six GCC markets recording healthy year-on-year sales growth, a statement said.

Bahrain registered the highest increase with sales up 22 per cent, closely followed by Kuwait at 21 per cent and Qatar with 19 per cent growth. Saudi Arabia continued its dominance as the top seller of Hyundai models in the Middle East, with sales up 11 per cent to over 72,500 units.

Oman continued the upwards trend, with sales rising by 11 per cent, while customers bought seven per cent more Hyundai models in the United Arab Emirates, with over 10,800 units sold in the first six months. Further north, Lebanon also experienced growth of seven per cent.

Across the GCC and Levant the Hyundai ‘i’ series, which includes the i10, i20, i30 and i40, is continuing to prove popular, registering growth of 36 per cent over the first six months of 2013 and proving there is a market for smaller, stylish and technologically-advanced cars. Hyundai’s most popular model across the region, the Elantra shows no signs of slowing down with sales up 35 per cent to over 47,500 units.

Benefiting from the company’s new ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design ethos and ‘Modern Premium’ brand direction, and featuring a unique three-door body shape, the Veloster is up an impressive 20 per cent.

SUVs continue to prove a popular choice in the GCC and Levant, with the All-New Santa Fe seeing growth of 10 per cent and the Tucson passing the 13,000 unit mark. Both models will soon be joined by the Grand Santa Fe, giving customers a larger, 7-seat SUV option.

The launch of the New 2014 Centennial in the Middle East earlier this year, and recent addition of a GDI engine to the Genesis line-up, have benefited Hyundai’s Premium model line-up, which has seen sales across the GCC and Levant region rise by 13 per cent compared to the same period of last year. The New 2014 Centennial was also recently named Best Luxury full-sized car by highly acclaimed Middle East motoring magazine, Automobile.

Tom Lee, vice president and head of Hyundai Middle East HQ, said: “While our focus in 2013 has been very much on enhancing the quality of our products and services, it is clear that the high demand for Hyundai cars hasn’t changed.”

“The arrival of more new models, together with the on-going roll-out across the region of customer-focused schemes such as the Hyundai Premium Assurance Plus Programme and the Certified Pre-Owned Programme, will help us to continue providing the highest quality service to our customers,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service