Exports of Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors vehicles fell by 1.9 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively, while exports for the other three companies showed a marked increase in the January-to-March quarter.

Hyundai Motor took a 50.8 percent share of the domestic market last month, putting them over the 50 percent point for the first time in four months.

According to sales results for the first quarter announced by the automobile makers on Monday, Hyundai Motor sold 612,477 cars for a 1.4 percent decrease compared to the same period last year, and Kia Motors sold 327,886 cars for a 0.3 percent decrease.

In the same quarter GM Daewoo sold 224,155 cars for a 28 percent increase, Renault Samsung sold 42,398 for a 21.7 percent increase and Ssangyong sold 33,326 cars for a 10.5 percent increase.

Hyundai again dominated the rankings of domestic vehicle sales in March, with its Avante, Sonata and Grandeur ranking first to third for the third month in a row, with sales of 10,757, 10,119 and 7,814, respectively.

A Hyundai Motor offical said Grandeur sales were up 38.3 percent from the 5,649 cars sold in February due to the release of the Grandeur 2.4.

Kia Motors sold 1,966 Opirus cars last month, putting it at the top of the full-size sedan category for the 10th month in a row.

(englishnews@chosun.com )