Hyundai Way Up Down Under
Australia is pretty much a stronghold for Toyota. Looking at the figures, it seems that Aussies like well-made, cheap reliable cars. And to be honest, who doesn’t like those kinds of cars? But what happens when someone else comes to your market, and does well what you do well? Well, you get worried.
Paddock Talk reports that Hyundai has had a record October since Hyundai came to Australia in 1986. In October, Hyundai sold 6,359 units, which represents a monthly market share of 7.9 percent. Hyundai Australia’s year to date sales look even better: 67,941 units sold, a 26 percent gain from last year, and a 10.8 percent market share for the first 10 months. “This is yet another outstanding result for the team at Hyundai and the Hyundai Dealer network. We are excited to have surpassed our best-ever annual sales record in the first ten months of this year,” said Damien Meredith, Hyundai Australia’s Director of sales. I kind of guessed he’d be pleased at this news.
I’m also guessing that someone at Aichi City is probably not so pleased at this news. Watch out, Toyota! Hyundai are coming after you in Australia. Your move, Toyota…
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Hyundai-Kia is doing really well in Brazil, too. And both are posed to launch their subcompacts into the Brazilian market in 2011 or 2012. With the Chinese gearing up for local production in 2013, look for Hyundai (if the price is right) to take out 4th place Ford in Brazil pretty soo.
I was in Sydney a couple of months ago, and I've been bottling this up since then: Never have I been anywhere that had such a collection of UGLY cars! Most were white ugly amoebas and afterbirths of different flavors. And the 'utes': grotesque! Oh, that feels better....
Tosh's comment interests me because I have just moved to Sydney after 5 years in Socal. My first impression was the large number of Renault, Peugeot and Citroen cars which were novel to my eyes as there are no French cars in California. Is this what you mean Tosh? Otherwise, they seem to be the same bunch of white,silver,black cars you see everywhere. Granted the utes are unique but their appeal is a matter of taste.
I'll not bother trying to defend against vague accusations of ugliness, or the attack on nationally treasured icon, but there is (anecdotally) a very good reason as to why most cars are white down here. It's bloody hot and white cars reflect heat better. That said I don't know if the science backs that up - perhaps we should call in the Mythbusters?