[AutoDaily] Hyundai's main model the Sonata in the U.S. is rapidly decreasing in sales this year.
 
The reasons for its decrease is the company exaggerated the fuel economy last year which caused controversy in the public eye and some quality control issues, like the water leaks, which haven't helped. On top of those problems you also have the union strike in Korea which is creating a shortage of supply to the U.S. factories.
 
Since August of this year, Sonata's sales in the United States are at 138,830 vehicles sold. That is a 12.1% decrease compared to last year. Last month especially saw a decrease in sales with 16,917 vehicles sold which was a 13.8% decrease.
 
This is the second highest loss percentage after the Chevy Impala, 22.2% decrease, in the United States. So that put Hyundai in the 11th spot on the sales rankings. This took them out of the top 10.
 
Sales have also been decreasing this year with less than 200,000 vehicles since 2011.
 
Sonata's past sales records in the U.S. :
· 2011-225,961 vehicles creating second highest sales to date, and for the first time ever breaking 200,000.
· 2012-230,605 vehicles the highest ever record sales.
· 2013-so far this year monthly sales figures are at 17,000 vehicles sold per month.
 
According to analysis, Hyundai manufacturing in the U.S. has been lacking in productive capacity and quality problems have created damage to the companies image.
 
The Sonata is being made in the U.S. but the major core parts are supplied from Korea. The Hyundai union workers are striking so it is creating setbacks in production to the U.S. factories that rely on the core parts. The strike in Korea is effecting not only production in Korea but also in its foreign factories.
 
In the domestic market the Sonata's sales have also decreased by 4.9%, 61,532 vehicles sold so far this year. This decrease has damaged the status of Hyundai's main model.
 
The LF Sonata is supposed to be released around the middle of next year with a new retro design. The Sonata has kept the same fluidic sculpture(Hyundai design language) design since 2009.
 
While the Sonata keeps sliding in sales in the U.S. Japanese models: Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and the Nissan Altima have been increasing in sales.
 
Japanese sales records this year so far :
· Toyota Camry-287,119 vehicles, 2.3% increase.
· Honda Accord-256,926 vehicles, 17.5% increase.
· Nissan Altima-228,297 vehicles, 8.9% increase compared to last year.
 
 
By Lee Sangwon.
(translate by Lee Jeonghwa)