Hyundai’s U.S. sales in 2012 could be over 700,000 vehicles according to John Krafcik, head of Hyundai’s North American operations.
Hyundai’s U.S. sales in 2012 could be over 700,000 vehicles according to John Krafcik, head of Hyundai’s North American operations. Hyundai’s sales could top last year’s sales of 645,691 cars even with the fact that the automaker’s inventory levels are low.
“We are literally selling cars off the transporters,” Krafcik said.
Hyundai’s Chairman Chung Mong-koo has capped Hyundai’s global production in an effort to focus on quality. “What (Chung) wants to do is assure we’re all focused on quality,” Krafcik said. “When he is satisfied that we’ve achieved this steady state from which we can grow, then we’ll have some opportunity” for adding capacity. Hyundai’s current global capacity is capped at around 7 million vehicles.
In order to have more vehicles available for retail customers, Hyundai is going to shift the number of sales it delivers to fleet customers. Last years 10 percent of Hyundai’s sales were to fleet customers. Krafcik says that Hyundai plans on moving that number to as low as 5 percent, which could free up as many as 100,000 vehicles to retail, which is more profitable.
Last month, Hyundai expected to beat its all-time sales record thanks to its lineup of 40-mpg models like the Veloster, Accent and Elantra.
