Korea’s leading automakers Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Co. saw their combined share of the European market hit an all-time high last month despite the region’s sluggish demand, industry data showed Wednesday.

Hyundai and Kia’s market share reached 6.3 percent of Europe’s passenger car market in June, up from the previous 6.1 percent record in April, according to the data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.

Hyundai sold 44,803 units in June for a market share of 3.6 percent, and its smaller affiliate Kia sold 33,699 vehicles for a share of 2.7 percent. Their combined sales of 78,502 units ranked 8th, trailing Germany’s BMW Group, which sold 82,519 units last month.

Hyundai and Kia’s June sales jumped 23.5 percent and 25.8 percent, respectively, from a year earlier, while the entire European car market contracted 1.7 percent on-year amid the region’s persistent debt crisis.

In the first six months of the year, Hyundai and Kia posted a combined 5.9 percent market share in Europe, with sales rising 12.2 percent to 232,454 units and 25.1 percent to 173,232 vehicles, respectively.

In the January-June period, sales in the region’s car market shrank 5.9 percent on-year to 6.9 million vehicles, according to the data.

Hyundai Motor Group, the parent of Hyundai and Kia, expects its market share to top 6 percent in 2012 for the first time. The group became the fifth-largest carmaker in the world with global sales hitting 5.75 million units last year.

“Our sales growth in Europe was boosted by sponsorship of Euro 2012 football championships event, new models like the i30 and the Cee’d and a takeover of a French dealership,” said a group official. (Yonhap News)