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Hyundai and Kia to hit record 8M sales for 2014

Hyundai and Kia are on a sales charge in 2014, and parent company Hyundai Motor Group is increasing projections to a record eight million combined units for the automakers by the end of the year – a bump over the original target of 7.86 million vehicles. According to Bloomberg, the key to the growth is beating expectations in Brazil, China and India, and strong crossover sales are also helping the bottom line. In the US, both automakers are doing well this year. In October, Hyundai saw a six percent dip in monthly sales, but through the first 10 months it sold 607,539 vehicles, compared to 601,773 at this point last year. Kia has done even better with 489,711 units sold from January to October, versus 456,137 for the period in 2013. The good news is a welcome antidote to negative headlines like investors' anger over Hyundai's $10 billion land purchase in Seoul, South Korea. The two automakers also had to pay a $300 million penalty to the Environmental Protection Agency for misstating fuel economy on some models. While sales may reach a new record, profits might not grow as much with them. The strong Korean won means that Hyundai and Kia have a tougher time keeping up profit margins compared to Japanese competitors with a weaker yen.

Krafcik says US Gov. shutdown is slowing Oct. auto sales

The government shutdown is eroding consumer confidence in the auto market, says John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai's US sales unit, and could lower October sales by as much as 10 percent, Automotive News reports. "It's that anxiety that keeps customers, potential buyers, on the sidelines when making a big purchase like an automobile," Krafcik says, adding that industry sales could be off by five to 10 percent in October compared to September.
The fourth quarter, which started October 1, usually consists of increased auto sales as dealerships clear their lots to make room for the next year's models. Leading up to the fourth quarter this year, the auto industry was doing well in the fragile, recovering US economy, although September deliveries decreased by 4.2 percent, due in part to this year's Labor Day sales being recorded for August.
To help its customers, Hyundai announced it is deferring new-car loan and lease payments for furloughed federal workers until they're called back to work and also offering them a three-month payment deferral if they buy a new Hyundai in October. "We have already had requests from over a thousand people to have their payments deferred," Krafcik says.

Woman drove her Hyundai Elantra 1 million miles in five years

Imagine driving 200,000 miles in a year. That's about 14 times more than the average American driver logs in a year, according to federal government statistics, and it adds up to almost 548 miles per day — if you literally drive every day. Now, imagine doing it for five straight years. Not behind the wheel of a semi truck, but a gray 2013 Hyundai Elantra. All on the original powertrain. That's the story of Farrah Haines, of Olathe, Kan., who managed to log 1 million miles on her Elantra — inexplicably fitted with some kind of grille guard — from her job delivering auto parts and products. Her feat is the equivalent of driving from her home outside Kansas City to Milwaukee ... Every. Single. Day. "I figured I love to drive, so I might as well turn it into a career," she says in a video Hyundai made about her. Since the odometer would simply roll back to zero after hitting 999,999 miles, Hyundai replaced it and forged its first-ever 1 Million Mile Emblem to display in the instrument panel. It's now an official Hyundai part. Haines also got a commemorative license-plate frame announcing her membership in the 1 Million Mile Club. But the bigger prize came later, when the automaker surprised her with a brand-new 2019 Elantra, this one in red. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Hyundai says it ran a number of tests to validate the odometer reading on her 2013 Elantra, with engineers poring over engine casting numbers, service records, wire harnesses and motor mounts — even her mileage records for her two jobs, plus Carfax and VIN reports. It determined the achievement is legit. "The key is to prioritize regular maintenance and to have a quality vehicle," Haines says in a statement. According to the above video, she gets her oil changed every two weeks. We admittedly don't know much about Haines or her jobs, but in the video, she says matter-of-factly that she drives 24/7. That's obviously an exaggeration, but still. With two jobs, and the staggering driving requirements outlined above, we can't help but wonder whether this is a cautionary tale about the gig economy buried in a feel-good story. So, Farrah — congrats on the new car? Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.