Hyundai Moves Into Times Square With New Outdoor Campaign

PRESS RELEASE: HYUNDAI MOVES INTO TIMES SQUARE WITH NEW OUTDOOR AD CAMPAIGN

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIF., 11/05/2009 - Hyundai Motor America moved into one of the world’s most high-profile advertising venues with a new Times Square billboard. The space at 2 Times Square in the heart of the famous “crossroads of the world” is a cubed shaped sign offering three display faces. The front display has two LED screens showing an updated stream of Hyundai video content, flanked on each side by two vinyl banners. The first Hyundai ads to be placed in Times Square feature Genesis Coupe. Hyundai is leasing the space through Sherwood Outdoor.

The video display enables Hyundai to develop new content that is both contextual and engaging. For example, the current videos feature the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe flying around the world-famous Road Atlanta racetrack, drifting through corners and accelerating down straightaways. A question is posed: “What’s your excuse?” Viewers are prompted with: “But officer. . .,” then given a series of fill-in-the-blank responses:

“I always drive fast when I hear opera!”
“I was trying to activate the flux capacitor.”
“I get muscle spasms in the leg.”

“As one of the world’s largest brands, Hyundai is actively looking for ways to integrate with the world’s biggest advertising venues, such as the Super Bowl, Academy Awards and World Cup,” said Chris Perry, director of Marketing Communications, Hyundai Motor America. “Times Square billboards draw 1.5 million impressions daily and it is one of the most iconic locations for outdoor advertising, so it aligns perfectly with our overall brand strategy.”

Continue reading for the complete press release.

In the future, Hyundai will integrate text messaging capability so that viewers can customize responses and post them to the video board. Hyundai is exploring other interactive capabilities for the display, and will integrate new campaigns to ensure the content is fresh and topical.

The Times Square billboard follows a year of high-profile advertising initiatives from Hyundai. Hyundai launched its exciting new Genesis Coupe during Super Bowl coverage, and sponsored the game’s pre-game show. In addition, Hyundai sponsored the Academy Awards for the first time ever, airing a total of eight spots during the telecast focused on the innovative Hyundai Assurance consumer program.

ABOUT HYUNDAI

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 790 dealerships nationwide.

USA: Kia Announces October Sales, Reports Gains

On the heels of its best quarter ever in company history, Kia Motors America today announced October sales of 22,490 units, a 45.3-percent increase over the same month last year. Year to date sales totaled 261,060, a 7.2-percent increase over the same period last year. October sales were led by the all-new Forte compact and Rio subcompact, selling 4,984 and 4,005 units respectively. The Borrego SUV posted its best month ever with 3,919 units.

Kia Motors is in the midst of a dramatic transformation of its line-up, contributing to the brand’s continued gains in U.S. market share. The upcoming launch of the all-new 2011 Sorento CUV, the official vehicle of the NBA and the first vehicle to be built at the company’s first U.S.-based manufacturing facilities in West Point, Georgia, is set to further enhance the line-up.

[Source: Kia Motors America]

USA: Hyundai Sales Surge 49 Percent for October

Hyundai Motor America today announced October sales of 31,005 units, a 49 percent increase compared to October 2008. Calendar year-to-date, sales were up 4 percent. This marks the tenth consecutive month of year-over-year gains in retail market share. Hyundai posted the largest market share growth in the auto industry, up 1.2 percentage points (from 3.1 percent to 4.3 percent) for the first ten months of this year.

“We’ve done a good job of selling down our 2009 model year inventory over the last few months, with about two-thirds of Hyundai car sales in October being fresh, 2010 model year vehicles,” said Dave Zuchowski, vice president of sales. "We have our all-new Tucson launching at the end of this year and the 2011 Sonata coming early next year, so we are excited about the terrific new products we’ll be filling our dealerships with.”

The Genesis continued its strong growth trend with sales of 1,850 units, a 65 percent increase. The subcompact Accent and compact Elantra had significant increases of 106 percent and 225 percent respectively versus 2008, while the Santa Fe delivered a solid sales gain of 70 percent. Sonata sales slipped 2 percent to 7,790 units while Tiburon sales plummeted to zero.

[Source: Hyundai Motor America]

Continue reading for the complete sales chart.

USA: Hyundai to Spend Big on New Sonata Marketing

According to Automotive News, Hyundai Motor America is planning to spend about half its estimated $500 million to $550 million budget for 2010 on two redesigned vehicles: the Sonata and Tucson. Both are slated to go on sale in the first quarter of 2010. While the overall marketing budget is the same as that in 2009, Hyundai Motor America will spend more to introduce the redesigned Sonata than it has on any vehicle launch in the brand's history.

According to Joel Ewanick, vice president of marketing at HMA, Hyundai will spend about twice what it did for the Genesis luxury sedan in the summer of 2008 with the all-new Sonata mid-size sedan. Reports say Hyundai spent $80 million on the rear-wheel drive sedan. Hyundai Motor America is well aware of the success that comes with heavy marketing, as it especially realized this with the highly successful Assurance Program that allows buyers who lose their jobs to return cars within a year of purchase. Hyundai sales were up 1 percent last month in an overall market down 27 percent. The brand's 4.4 percent market share is a significant leap from the 3.1 percent last year.

With the completely redesigned Sonata, Hyundai plans to make a serious run at the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion. The majority of the money will be spent on network broadcast and network cable TV, with a hefty share towards major sporting events like the Super Bowl. Hyundai will also spend big on the upcoming FIFA World Cup to be broadcast on ESPN, as well as continuing sponsorship of the Academy Awards. For the all-new Tucson, Hyundai will spend about the same as it did with the Genesis.

"The Genesis brought new, incremental customers, but the volume with Sonata and Tucson could be significant," Ewanick said.

[Source: Automotive News]

Hyundai Reports September Global Sales

Hyundai Motor Company posted its global sales data for the month of September and reported a 61.3 percent rise compared to a year earlier. This increase was aided by the launch of the redesigned Tucson and Sonata, as well as strong sales from overseas plants.

Domestic sales rose 118.0 percent to 68,570 units in September from 31,449 units a year earlier. This can be attributed mainly to the Korean government’s tax benefits offered since May to consumers who exchange their vehicles older than 10 years for new ones. More working days in Korea, compared to September 2008, also influenced the results.

The best-selling model in Korea last month was the Sonata, selling 16,299 units. Of this figure, 9,517 units were the redesigned YF Sonata that was launched in Korea on September 17. Cumulative overseas sales, including both exports from Korea and sales from overseas plants, rose by 50.0 percent to 238,611 units in September, up from 159,031 units a year earlier. Strong sales from Hyundai’s overseas plants in China, India and the Czech Republic contributed to this increase.

Exports from Korea increased by 43.9% to 88,331 units for the month compared to a year earlier, while sales from overseas plants rose 53.9 percent to 150,280 units.

[Source: Hyundai]

Hyundai Launches New "Momentum" Ad Campaign

PRESS RELEASE: HYUNDAI MOMENTUM CAPTURED IN NEW AD CAMPAIGN

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 10/09/2009 - Hyundai Motor America enters Q4 2009 riding a wave of positive news, industry accolades and increased sales despite a persistent economic slump and challenging sales environment. The company’s latest advertising campaign, titled “Momentum,” puts an exclamation point on a year of consistently positive news from Hyundai, including 2009 North American Car of the Year honors for Genesis sedan, ranking number one among non-premium brands in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, and launching one of the industry’s most influential incentive programs, Hyundai Assurance.

The campaign directs viewers to www.HyundaiMomentum.com, which features recent news stories focused on new models, corporate initiatives and global success. Hyundai plans to add more articles and enhance search functionality over time, maintaining the site as a one-stop shop for consumers interested in reading what media has to say about Hyundai.

[Source: Hyundai]

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"We have been receiving a lot of accolades, awards and positive reinforcement from the press and consumers. And shoppers are noticing this. We needed to find a way to harness this momentum and offer it up in a way that is easy for the consumer to access and understand," said Chris Perry, director of marketing communications, Hyundai Motor America. “Hyundai Momentum addresses that curiosity, and gives consumers a destination to satisfy it.”

Hyundai Momentum broke on October 1 with online advertising, followed by broadcast spots October 4 during NFL games. The campaign is slated to run through November. Ad creative, which includes five unique TV spots and a variety of online ads, was developed by Innocean Worldwide Americas.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through almost 790 dealerships nationwide.

Sales: Hyundai Canada Posts Best September Ever

Hyundai has been breaking sales records in Canada throughout 2009, and September was no exception to the trend. With 9,282 units sold in September, the company's total year to date sales volume reached 82,642 vehicles - surpassing its best ever annual sales volume, set in 1985, by nearly 2.5 per cent.

September sales were up year-over-year by more than 30 per cent. This marks the company's eighth straight record-breaking month and ninth consecutive month of sales increases. Ranked globally as the fourth largest automaker (behind only Toyota, GM and Volkswagen), Hyundai is Canada's sixth largest manufacturer by volume as of end-of-August figures.

In the showrooms, the Santa Fe has enjoyed particular sales success. Selling 2,478 units, September 2009 was the Santa Fe's best on record and represented an increase of more than 70 per cent over September 2008. The Elantra also enjoyed its best September ever with 2,039 units, a staggering 129 percent increase from the same month last year.

[Source: Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.]

Read more for the complete sales chart.


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Month 2009 2008 % Change Notes
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January 4,607 3,874 + 18.9%
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February 6,912 5,326 + 29.8% Best February ever
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March 8,818 7,029 + 25.5% Best March ever
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April 10,809 9,412 + 14.8% Best April ever
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May 11,204 9,508 + 17.8% Best month on record
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June 10,104 8,049 + 25.5% Best June ever
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July 10,488 7,611 + 37.8% Best July ever
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August 10,418 7,530 + 38.4% Best August ever
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September 9,282 7,095 + 30.8% Best September ever
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Nameplate 09/2009 09/2008 % Change Notes
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Accent 2,218 2,154 + 3.0%
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Elantra 2,039 889 + 129.4% Best September ever
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Elantra Touring 830 - N/A
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Sonata 556 1,371 - 59.4%
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Azera 19 47 - 59.6%
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Genesis 84 51 + 64.7%
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Genesis Coupe 226 - N/A
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Tucson 659 785 - 16.1%
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Santa Fe 2,478 1,455 + 70.3% Best September ever
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Veracruz 114 119 - 4.2%
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Sales: Kia Posts Increases for September (USA)

Kia Motors America announced Thursday that its U.S. sales in September surged 24.4 percent over the year-earlier levels. Sales in September rose to 21,623 units from the 17,383 posted in September 2008. Year to date, the company's U.S. sales climbed 4.6 percent to 238,570.

Last month's top seller for Kia was the Optima mid-size sedan, as volumes jumped last month to 5,986 from 1,905. The automaker's new Forte compact sedan sold 4,449 units. The Soul and Rio also sold well with 2,459 and 2,811 units respectively. On the other side of the spectrum, sales of the Spectra plunged to 462 from 3,878, while Sorento volumes dropped to 854 units from 3,163 and Rondo sales fell to 653 from 2,642.

Kia is anticipating its sales momentum to continue rising over the next few months, as it is undergoing a substantial brand revitalization. New models in the pipeline include the redesigned 2011 Sorento, assembled at Kia's West Point, Georgia plant, an all-new Optima (TF), and the premium "VG" sedan set to launch next year.

[Source: Forbes & Kia]

Read more for the complete sales chart

Sales: Hyundai Reports Gains for September (USA)

Hyundai Motor America today announced its September sales of 31,511units, a 27 percent increase compared with September 2008. For the calendar year to-date, Hyundai sales are up 1.4 percent compared to last year. This also marks the ninth consecutive month of significant year-over-year gains in retail market share. Hyundai leads all automotive brands in market share growth this year as well.

“While consumer demand following the Cash-for-Clunkers program softened during the month of September, we are encouraged with our continued growth in retail share and overall sales through the first nine months of the year,” said Dave Zuchowski, vice president of sales.“With our solid product and marketing plans going into the fourth quarter, in addition to the upcoming launch of the all-new Tucson and Sonata, we are cautiously optimistic during these challenging times.”

The Genesis continued its strong growth trend with sales of 1,665 units. The compact Elantra had a significant increase of 104 percent versus 2008, while the Santa Fe delivered a substantial sales gain of 50 percent leading up to the introduction of the facelifted 2010 model.

[Source: Hyundai Motor America]

Read more for the complete sales chart.