Merry Month of May for Hyundai Motor Europe / Monthly Sales Up 26%

Rüsselsheim, Germany (ots) -

- Hyundai's May sales at 28,838 units in May, market share at 2%

- Cumulative sales for 2004 reach 144,735 units up 21 pct y-o-y

- Getz remains European best seller

Despite the fact that May is a holiday-rich month with comparatively weaker sales, Hyundai Motor Europe has realized sales of 28,838 units. The European economy seems to have edged upwards; throughout the entire network in Europe, Hyundai registered double-digit percentage increases in sales during the first five months of 2004.

Led by strong sales of the recently launched face lifted Trajet and new Getz turbo diesel, the cumulative sales for the January till May period this year reached 144,735 units, a year-over-year improvement of slightly more than 21 percent.

The rapidly improving quality of Hyundai products as well as the stronger localization of their appeal factors such as design and packaging, are providing the momentum for continuous sales gains; in its ongoing 6-Sigma Quality Programme Hyundai has achieved a milestone when finishing in a tie for second place in the most recent J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS).

"In complementing outstanding product quality with Hyundai's well known service quality, we will firmly move towards our set goal of becoming one of the top 5 automobile brands by 2010", said Kwang Heum Um, President of Hyundai Motor Europe. He added: "It's not the surging spring fever, but refined design, perfect packaging, outstanding quality, and the inclusion of relevant advanced technology that makes people go for a Hyundai."

European sales were stimulated by the Getz; strong consumer demand for the turbo-diesel model led to fast-growing backorders. Total sales for Getz reached 9,086 units in May (113,540 units for Jan.-May period). Demand for the Matrix was surprisingly strong: The mini MPV emerged as the company's number two seller in May selling 4,190 units. Santa Fe is with 3,544 sold units 10 percent above plan. In all, 10,144 SUVs and MPVs were sold in May, up 9.8 percent over May 2003.

At the end of the month, Hyundai could bolster its position as the third largest non-European importer with a market share in Europe averaged out at 2 percent, up by 0.2 percent.

Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Co. has grown into the Hyundai Automotive Group which includes Kia Motors Corp. and over two dozen auto-related subsidiaries and affiliates. Employing nearly 50,000 people worldwide, Hyundai Motor posted 17.77 billion Euro in sales in 2003. Hyundai motor vehicles are sold in 190 countries through 4,504 dealerships and showrooms. Further information about Hyundai Motor Co. and its products is available on the Internet at http://www.hyundai-motor.com.