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In the wake of economic slowdown and strikes, production, consumption and exports of cars declined in August. According to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association on Wednesday, domestic carmakers produced 243,143 vehicles in August, down 16.2 percent year-on-year. Production from January to August this year was a mere 2,578,956 vehicles, down 2.6 percent from the same period in 2007.
80,911 vehicles were sold in the domestic market in August, down 18.7 percent, and 163,454 cars were exported, showing a 16.7 percent fall from 2007. Domestic sales of compact cars increased by 37.8 percent, but sales of SUVs, small, medium-sized and large sedans declined.
As a result of the price of LPG rising to 60 percent of the cost of gasoline, sales in August of LPG-powered mini-vans tumbled by 42.1 percent. Hyundai Sonata made most domestic sales in August, followed by Renault Samsung SM5 and Hyundai Avante. GM Daewoo Lacetti made most exports in August, followed by GM Daewoo Gentra X and Hyundai Verna.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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