Hyundai Motor's sales slump deepens beyond strike fallout

Hyundai Motor’s sales slump deepened in September, with Korea sales falling 25.7 percent year on year and global sales down 16 percent. The company said fewer operating days from the Chuseok holiday, delayed demand for new models, and lingering production disruptions from a 111-day labor dispute weighed on results. Hyundai is now banking on new models, including the fifth-generation Tucson SUV, and a broader hybrid lineup to revive fourth-quarter sales.

Hyundai Motor sold 49,022 vehicles in Korea last month, down 25.7 percent from a year earlier.

Hyundai Motor reported overseas sales down 13.9 percent and overall sales down 16 percent in September.

Hyundai Motor’s January-September global sales stood at about 2.9 million units, down 7 percent from a year earlier.

Kia’s global sales rose 5.1 percent in September, and its January-September sales increased 4.4 percent.

General Motors Korea’s global sales surged 73.3 percent last month, helped by a 79.5 percent increase in exports of the Trax and Trailblazer models.

Published Oct 2, 2026 4:44 pm KST

Carmaker faces test of proving resilience with Q4 sales rebound

Hyundai Motor headquarters in Seoul / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

Hyundai Motor’s push to reverse its sales decline comes under a tougher test in the fourth quarter, as its long-time rivals and emerging players show greater resilience.

The carmaker sold 49,022 vehicles in Korea last month, down 25.7 percent from a year earlier. The company attributed the decline largely to fewer operating days caused by the Chuseok holiday and pent-up demand ahead of its new strategic model launches.

It also pointed to the lingering effects of production disruptions from the 111-day labor dispute that ended in August.

But the scale of Hyundai’s local sales decline stands out, as Kia fared much better with a sales fall of 6.7 percent during the same period.

The contrast is even sharper when looking at overall performance, with Hyundai Motor reporting a sales drop of 16 percent here and abroad. The carmaker also reported an overseas sales fall of 13.9 percent.

Kia’s global sales rose 5.1 percent in September from the previous year, with overseas sales increasing 7.5 percent. The automaker also posted a record third-quarter sales figure of more than 846,000 vehicles.

General Motors Korea’s global sales surged 73.3 percent last month, driven by a 79.5 percent increase in exports of its two strategic models, including the Trax and Trailblazer.

Hyundai Motor's best-selling Tucson SUV / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

Hyundai is now counting on new models, including its fifth-generation Tucson SUV, to help revive sales in the fourth quarter. The company has also been expanding its hybrid lineup to the best-selling SUV, as part of its key strategy to boost sales in line with growing demand for hybrid cars.

The challenge is whether those measures can generate a meaningful rebound quickly enough. Hyundai’s January-September global sales stood at some 2.9 million units, down 7 percent from a year earlier, while Kia’s rose 4.4 percent during the same period.

"Major competitors are moving to offset domestic sales doldrums by boosting exports and expanding sales abroad," an official from the auto industry said. "Hyundai Motor is tasked with achieving sales rebound in the fourth quarter to clear lingering concerns that the carmaker may end up losing more ground domestically to existing rivals and emerging players, such as Tesla."

Hyundai Motor's Sept. sales drop 16% on fewer working days

Hyundai Motor bets on redesigned Tucson SUV for sales rebound

现代汽车9月份销量下滑加剧，韩国销量同比下降25.7%，全球销量同比下降16%。该公司表示，中秋节假期导致工作日减少、新车型需求延迟以及持续111天的劳资纠纷造成的生产中断等因素都对业绩造成了影响。现代汽车目前寄希望于包括第五代途胜SUV在内的新车型以及更丰富的混合动力产品线，以期提振第四季度销量。

现代汽车上个月在韩国售出49022辆汽车，比去年同期下降25.7%。

现代汽车9月份海外销量下降13.9%，整体销量下降16%。

现代汽车1月至9月的全球销量约为290万辆，比上年同期下降7%。

起亚汽车9月份全球销量增长5.1%，1月至9月销量增长4.4%。

通用汽车韩国公司上个月全球销量飙升 73.3%，这主要得益于 Trax 和 Trailblazer 车型出口量增长 79.5%。

发布于2026年10月2日下午4:44（韩国标准时间）

汽车制造商面临考验，需证明其在第四季度销售反弹中展现出的韧性。

现代汽车首尔总部 / 图片由现代汽车提供

现代汽车力图扭转销量下滑的颓势，但在第四季度将面临更严峻的考验，因为其长期竞争对手和新兴企业都展现出了更强的韧性。

这家汽车制造商上个月在韩国售出49,022辆汽车，同比下降25.7%。该公司将销量下滑主要归因于中秋节假期导致的营业天数减少，以及新战略车型上市前积压的需求。

报告还指出，持续 111 天的劳资纠纷（于 8 月结束）造成的生产中断的影响仍然存在。

但现代汽车在当地销量下滑的幅度尤为突出，因为同期起亚汽车的销量下滑幅度要小得多，仅为 6.7%。

从整体业绩来看，这种对比更为鲜明。现代汽车报告称，其国内外销量均下降了16%。此外，该汽车制造商还报告称，其海外销量下降了13.9%。

起亚汽车9月份全球销量同比增长5.1%，其中海外销量增长7.5%。这家汽车制造商还公布了第三季度创纪录的销量数据，超过84.6万辆。

通用汽车韩国公司上个月的全球销量飙升了 73.3%，这主要得益于其两款战略车型（包括 Trax 和 Trailblazer）的出口量增长了 79.5%。

现代汽车最畅销的途胜SUV / 图片由现代汽车提供

现代汽车目前寄希望于包括第五代途胜SUV在内的新车型，以期在第四季度提振销量。作为其关键战略的一部分，该公司还扩大了其最畅销SUV的混合动力车型阵容，以满足日益增长的混合动力汽车需求，从而提升销量。

挑战在于这些措施能否迅速产生实质性的反弹。现代汽车1月至9月的全球销量约为290万辆，同比下降7%，而起亚汽车同期销量增长4.4%。

一位汽车行业官员表示：“主要竞争对手正通过增加出口和扩大海外销售来弥补国内销售低迷的局面。现代汽车的任务是在第四季度实现销售反弹，以消除人们对其在国内市场可能进一步被现有竞争对手和特斯拉等新兴企业蚕食市场份额的担忧。”

现代汽车9月份销量下降16%，原因是工作日减少

现代汽车寄希望于重新设计的途胜SUV能够提振销量