Hyundai Motor America said January sales rose 24 percent year-over-year, the automaker's best result since the government's "Cash for Clunkers" program spurred a rush of customers in August. Sales of the Santa Fe jumped 43.4 percent from a year ago to 7,204 last month.
Reuters reports that popular, low-cost models and savvy marketing helped Hyundai grab market share in the United States and China last year and analysts are optimistic the firm would win more and keep its edge over rivals this year, as Toyota is mired in its largest ever recall.
Hyundai posted a record quarterly operating profit last week as its small cars proved popular with recession-weary buyers and plans to raise sales this year by 11 percent to 3.46 million cars, trucks and buses.
