Hyundai Avante set to become top-selling domestic, export car

SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- The Avante compact made by South Korea's leading automaker Hyundai Motor Co. is poised to become the best-selling domestic and export car in 2011 among local brands, an industry report showed Wednesday.
The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA) report said domestic sales of the Avante -- known as the Elantra in the United States -- reached 64,795 units in the first half of this year with exports reaching 125,154.
In the local market, the Avante overcame stiff competition from the Grandeur full-size sedan, also made by Hyundai, whose sales reached 61,938 units in the six month period, while it stayed ahead of Kia Motors Corp.'s Forte compact in the export race. Exports of the Forte, made by Hyundai's sister company, reached 111,066 units.
"If the Avante's sales continue to do well in the second half as expected, the car should be able to grab both the best-selling domestic and export titles this year," a KAMA spokesperson said.
Hyundai said that the Avante has been a steady seller since it was launched in 1995, and was ranked as the best-selling export model in 2009, although it lost out to the Sonata in the local market.
The carmaker said that a rise in global fuel prices is a key factor in strong sales of the Avante, and because the current sales momentum is likely to be maintained, the compact will probably be the best selling car this year.
The latest 2011 model of the Avante is equipped with a 1.6-liter engine that generates 140 horsepower and has a fuel economy of 16.5 kilometers on a liter of gasoline, which is on par with smaller subcompact cars, Hyundai said.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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