Hyundai wins best car award in Britain

SEOUL, Feb. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. was awarded the best carmaker of the year title by a British magazine, beating other global car brands, industry sources here said Tuesday. South Korea's top automaker won the annual Car Maker of the Year given by AM Magazine from Britain for its competitive prices and a hike in sales in the British market thanks to its strong dealership network and marketing strategy, according to the sources. It fought off the other nominees that included European brands like Land Rover and Skoda. Hyundai Motor received the honor for the second time in three years. It won the title in 2010. Its smaller affiliate Kia Motors Corp. also took the best carmaker award in 2009. Hyundai Motor said it expects the award to strengthen its brand awareness and help increase sales in the British car market. Hyundai Motor sold 62,900 units of its vehicles in 2011 in Britain, up 1.9 percent from a year ago, with a market share of 3.2 percent, according to the British Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders (SMMT). (END)