South Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller sibling company Kia Motors Corp. saw their combined China sales tumble 65.1 percent on year to reach 8-year low in April hit by recent diplomatic row with China over Korea’s deployment of the U.S. antimissile system.

According to multiple industry sources Friday, the two carmakers sold a combined 51,059 units in China last month, down 65.1 percent from 146,378 units tallied a year earlier. It marks the second straight monthly drop there and also the lowest level seen in February 2009 when demand for automobiles took a beating in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

Sales of Hyundai Motor in China dropped 63.6 percent on year to 35,009 units last month, while Kia Motors posted a 68 percent drop and sold 16,050 units.

China’s retaliatory move against Korea following the latter’s decision to deploy the U.S. antimissile Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the country dented sales of the Korean automaker in the world’s largest car market.

The two Korean carmakers’ combined sales in the first four months of this year reached 324,410 units, down 37.1 percent from a year-ago period. Hyundai Motor saw its China sales skid 28.9 percent on year in the January - April period to 231,128 units. Kia Motors saw its sales in the period more than halved from a year ago and sold 93,282 units, down 51 percent.

The on-month drop in the automakers’ China shipments has been escalating from 17.1 percent in February and 21 percent in March to 29.1 percent in April.

Both carmakers pin a high hope on their upcoming vehicles designed exclusively for the Chinese market, Hyundai Motor sport utility vehicle (SUV) all-new ix35, Kia Motors K2 Cross SUV and compact sedan Pegasus.

By Woo Je-yoon

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]