Hyundai goes beyond Renault in sales

The Korean Hyundai are wide open to the Brazilian market. The automaker, which opened the first factory in the country in October last year, has won the fifth place in the ranking of car and light commercial sales. With the hatch HB20, the company overtook Renault that remained in the post for at least five years.
"They (Koreans) are very aggressive. And HB20 is a case of success in the Brazilian market. The car, even before being released, had already recorded requests. I believe that this position should be maintained and it will be difficult for Renault regain fifth place, "said the society's Director of Mobility engineers (SAE), Francisco Satkunas.
Until April, according to data from the Brazilian Association of Dealers of motor vehicles (Fenabrave), Hyundai sold 64,524 units and garnering 5.84%. The difference for the French Renault is low, but substantial. The European automaker sold cars and light commercial 63,878 and halted a 5.78%.
Renault had production stop in the first two months of the year to increase work capacity. Now the factory of São José dos Pinhais, Parana, can produce 350 thousand cars. Were 110 thousand additional units, virtually a new factory. To this end, the automaker is investing $ 1.5 billion in Brazil.
"Hyundai may be threatened if she decides not to expand its factory in Piracicaba. I do not believe that it does. They are with a well-formed structure to conquer the Brazilian market ", Satkunas said. In Piracicaba, Hyundai has the capacity to produce 150 thousand units per year, which is expected to be reached this year, according to the automaker.
The already Korean studies up to open a new work shift to account for the increasing demand for its car HB20, which according to Fenabrave already sold this year 43,799 units, remaining in fourth place among the best-selling cars in the country. In this factory, Hyundai invested about $ 700 million.
Total market
According to Fenabrave, sales of cars and light commercial grew 18.03% in April. Were emplacadas in 316,705 units, compared to 268,324 vehicles in March. Compared with April last year, when 244,801 units were sold, the segments recorded 29.37% growth.
Year to date, also an increase of 8.55%. They have sold in the first four months of the year, 1,104,341 units, against 1,017,343 in the same period in 2012.