Sales of imported cars in S. Korea rise 15.5 pct in 2008

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- Sales of imported cars in South Korea rose 15.5 percent
last year, despite stubbornly weak domestic consumption, an industry group said
Wednesday.

Import sales totaled 61,648 units in 2008, compared with 53,390 units in 2007,
the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association said in a statement.
In contrast, local automakers -- led by Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia
Motors Corp. -- saw a 5.3 percent drop in domestic sales in 2008.
However, the association's data showed import dealers were also beginning to feel
the pinch of fragile domestic consumption.
Last month, sales of imported cars fell 12.1 percent from a year earlier to 4,046
units, it said.
Japan's Honda Motor Co. was the most popular foreign car brand in South Korea
last year with a total of 12,356 vehicles sold, followed by Germany's BMW AG and
Mercedes-Benz.
(END)