Hyundai ranks Jordan as 2nd biggest in Middle East

AMMAN — Hyundai maintained its top spot in Jordan in 2013 and continues to do so during 2014, according to Tom Lee, head of Hyundai Middle East and Africa.

Even with a stronger Korean won and weaker Japanese yen leading to increased Japanese car sales, the Korean giant “maintained its number one position in Jordan in 2013, ahead of Japanese competitors, with a 47 per cent market share”, Lee said, citing the GCC-based Middle East Automotive Council data exchange’s new car sales figures. 

“One of our key strengths is the extensive vehicle range that we offer in Jordan,” he added. “Customer confidence… has increased significantly and this has been helped by Hyundai’s pursuit of its Modern Premium brand direction.”

Lee indicated that the Elantra and Accent proved to be the most popular models with Middle East and Jordanian customers noting that luxury “flagship Centennial and Genesis models… recorded an increase in sales last year in the Jordanian market”. 

Launched in the second half of 2013, the fuel efficient and good value Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has been met with a “tremendously positive reaction” in Jordan, with 800 sold in 2013 and 750 as of the first half of 2014.

With over 28,500 cars sold and accounting for 9 per cent of total Middle East sales in 2013 “Jordan is a key market for us regionally” Hyundai’s regional boss said, adding that Jordan is “the second biggest Middle East market for Hyundai, after Saudi Arabia”. 

He valued Hyundai’s Jordanian dealership’s role in ensuring the brand’s dominant presence in the Kingdom.

Though representing a relatively modest share of Hyundai’s 4.7-million sales in 2013, Lee  described the Middle East and Africa region as “a key growth market expecting it as the next driving force for Hyundai Motor Company on a global level”. 

The second best-selling car in the Middle East, Hyundai’s 328,856 unit sales represented an 8 per cent year-on-year sales increase and constituted a 16 per cent regional market share.