In June this year South Korea's total car output surged by 11.8 percent year on year to 437,608 units due to growth in exports, according to a report released by the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA). Production in the first half of this year also reached an historic record, rising by 9.7 percent year on year to 2,302,601 units.
Domestic sales in June this year rose by six percent year on year totaling 128,836 units, due to the sales increase of fuel-efficient models like Hyundai's Grandeur, Kiai's Morning, GM Korea's Arlando and Ssangyongi's Korando. South Korean domestic sales in the first six months of 2011 climbed 2.4 percent year on year amounting to 739,197 vehicles.
South Korean car exports in June went up by 14.2 percent year on year to 304,452 units, attributed to the growing preference for small-sized cars of high fuel efficiency, the improved quality of Korean cars, and supply shortage of Japanese competitors. In the January-June period this year, exports surged 15.1 percent year on year, reaching 1,540,772 units.