Hyundai Motor’s Brazil-tailored HB20 ranks No. 2 in Brazil

Hyundai Motor’s Brazil-tailored HB20 ranks No. 2 in Brazil. October. 14, 2015 07:11. yhkang@donga.com.

The “HB20,” Hyundai Motor’s first model strategically developed for Brazil, has become the second best seller since launching it at the end of 2012.

According to Brazil Automobile Dealers Association on Tuesday, 8,889 units of the compact hatchback HB20 were sold in September in Brazil, ranking second after General Motors’s Chevrolet Onix (10,121 units). Fiat’s Palio came at third (8,761 units).

The HB20 has helped boost Hyundai’s market share in Brazil. Automobile sales in Brazil fell to 192,610 units in September, a 31.8 percent decrease year-on-year, due to economic recession in the country. Hyundai Motor’s sales in Latin America’s biggest economy also declined, falling 21.7 percent year-on-year to 15,860 units, but its market share rose by 1.1 percentage point to 8.2 percent. In terms of sales ranking by manufacturer, the Korean carmaker beat Renault to rank fifth.

“An improved HB20 model launched sales this month and we believe sales to gain more momentum,” a Hyundai Motor official said.