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

In September, Hyundai Motor, South Korea's largest car manufacturer, witnessed a notable decline in its sales, falling by 16% compared to the same period last year. The decrease was primarily attributed to the Chuseok holiday, which resulted in fewer working days. In September 2025, the company sold 307,998 vehicles, a significant drop from 366,731 units in September 2024.

Domestic sales experienced a sharp decline of 25.7%, falling to 49,022 units from 66,001 units a year earlier. Overseas sales also saw a reduction of 13.9%, with 258,976 units sold compared to 300,730 units in September 2024.

The primary factors contributing to the sales decline were the reduced number of working days due to Chuseok and delayed demand for new models. Hyundai acknowledged these challenges in its press release. Despite the setback, Hyundai remains optimistic and plans to launch the all-new Tucson sport utility vehicle (SUV) in the domestic market. This strategic move aims to bolster its SUV lineup, which has been a key focus for the automaker.

Overall, from January to September 2025, Hyundai's cumulative sales declined by 7%, amounting to 2,886,763 vehicles, down from 3,105,346 units in the same period last year. Domestic sales suffered a 16.3% decrease, dropping to 448,181 units from 535,458 units in the first nine months of 2024. Overseas sales also experienced a decline of 5.1%, totaling 2,438,582 units compared to 2,569,888 units in the first nine months of 2024.