Korean automakers announced on Monday that their 2011 sales jumped on solid demand overseas, despite the gloom that hit other sectors because of problems in the eurozone.

Hyundai Motor Co., Korea’s leading automaker, said Monday that its 2011 sales increased 12.3 percent from a year earlier, propelled mainly by strong overseas demand for its vehicles. The carmaker said it sold more than 4.05 million vehicles overall last year, up from 3.60 million units in 2010.

Domestic sales also moved up 3.6 percent to 683,570 units.

The company said annual domestic sales of its Grandeur full-sized sedan, Sonata mid-size, and Avante compact car all exceeded 100,000 units in 2011.

Kia Motors Corp., the country’s second-largest automaker, said that its 2011 sales rose 19.2 percent on-year. The company sold more than 2.53 million vehicles last year compared with 2.30 million units a year earlier. Domestic sales edged up 1.8 percent to 493,003 units, while exports soared 24.3 percent to a little over 2.04 million units. Exports include cars made in South Korea and overseas plants.

Ssangyong Motor Co., the country’s smallest automaker, said that its sales surged 38.2 percent on-year in 2011.

The company sold 113,001 vehicles last year, compared with 81,747 units a year earlier. Domestic sales rose 19.1 percent on-year to 38,651 units with exports shooting up 50.8 percent to 74,350 vehicles.

Meanwhile, GM Korea Co., the Korean unit of U.S. automaker General Motors Co., said that its 2011 sales increased 7.6 percent from a year earlier also on solid overseas demand.

GM Korea sold a total of 808,309 vehicles last year, compared with 751,453 units tallied in 2010, the company said in a statement. Domestic sales reached a record 140,705 units, representing an 11.9 percent gain from the previous year. Exports rose 6.7 percent on-year to 667,604 units.

Renault Samsung Motors Co., the Korean unit of French automaker Renault SA, said its 2011 sales contracted 9 percent from a year earlier due to sluggish economic conditions. Renault Samsung said it sold 246,959 vehicles last year, compared with 271,479 units a year earlier. Exports rose 19 percent on-year to 137,738 units, but local sales nosedived 29.8 percent from a year earlier to 109,221. 

(Yonhap News)