Hyundai Halts Production as Sonata Sales Dip
Just days after Ford’s announcement that it would shut down production of its F-Series Super Duty for two weeks, Hyundai has announced a stoppage of its own.
The carmaker ordered a halt in production at its Montgomery, Alabama plant in an effort to reduce its inventory of unsold Sonata sedans.
(Click through the jump to find out how long Hyundai plans to shut down.)
After showing sales 19.6 percent lower than this time last year, Hyundai made the call to strategically stop production. After today’s halt, plans call for the plant to close again on the 12th and 19th of this month. Beyond that, further shutdowns have not been determined.
Though Sonata sales were down over 2,000 units versus the same month last year, Hyundai’s Santa Fe sales have gained ground. Daily production of the crossover has risen by nearly 100 units against last year’s numbers.
Comments
Don
Yikes.
Dan
I feel so bad for this "American" car company...I guess I'd better run out and buy one to support them *sarcasm*
FPF422
I had a one day test drive of the Sonata and found it to be a quite honest, well equiped and well priced sedan. Nothing exciting but a simple good car.
FPF422
btw, the build quality is far superior than the American cars available in Belgium (from Cadillac to Chrysler)
Maybe the interior of the American cars have more toys but they are much more expensive and the materials used in the cabin have a very cheap feel to them (unlike the Hyundai).
dante
This car's getting old and that particular market isn't red hot right now.
The Stig
Old? This generation only came out in 2006.......
mo
well, the problem with the car is that the design is so normal. no curves that can attract the non interested buyer. but i am amazed because this car is great.
Ducati Minor
That's what I was about to say. The Sonata is a pretty good car from what I have read. There's just so much fresh competition with the Camry, Altima, the "new" Taurus (which does tread of Hyundai territory with safety), AURA, and the 2008 Malibu and Accord.
Ducati Minor
I meant I agreed with the Stig--not mo.
Jonathan Fung [Gotakon]
I don't know about the Sonata, but I'm not surprised that the Santa Fe is selling well. That is a suprisingly nice car, considering what the Hyundai badge stereotypically seems to imply.
The Stig
I just looked at their website. At least in the Michigan market, there is a $2500 rebate on 07's. With some negotiating another $2000 off is not unreasonable, and you are looking at a FULLY loaded model in the very low $20k's. Compare that to the stickers on it's competitors, and I'd wager a guess that it's the best deal out there right now. I'll echo the above comments - these are not the penalty boxes that they once were.
Thang
Camry and Accord going to kill the Sonata just like it Killed the Taurus, if you talk say the Taurus was never kill thats false it was killed off but then Ford discover that the Ford Five Hundred didn't make any money. So the Ford Five Hundred name was replace with the Taurus man in hope it can sale.
FPF422
I fully agree with Jonathan Fung [Gotakon]. My sister has one and it makes me even consider going from my '05 SLK 350 to the Santa Fe... only considering, I'm too much in love with my SLK ;)
Winding Road » Archive » They’re in the Money: Flush Porsche
[...] It seems that while there are hard times all over on this side of the Atlantic, autoworkers in Germany are in for a bit of a treat. [...]
ASH
I BOUGHT ONE A YEAR AGO, IT WAS ADVERTISED @ $34K. IN AUS. WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY ON THE ROAD (BASICALLY IT HAS A CERTAIN EXCLUSIVENESS TO IT) BUT I WAS INTERSETED IN IT'S STYLE, GADGETS, DRIVE ETC. I NEGOTIATED $30K ON ROAD DUE TO LACK OF SALES HERE, I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS WHAT SO EVER & WOULD DEFINATELY BUY ANOTHER HYUNDAI.
Ducati Minor
"Compare that to the stickers on it’s competitors, and I’d wager a guess that it’s the best deal out there right now."
That's the obvious, Stig--it's just that how many people understand it? We're in a market setting where a V-6 Camry will hit thirty grand easy, and people are still willing to spend that. Even the Altima, not held in the same regard as the Accord, asks a lot when you add options. The Sonata makes for an exceptional value with its steady performance, focus on safety, and plush accoutrements.
Throopspeed
I am kind of shocked as this is a really good car for the money ( my brother got one for around 18K and really likes it). I know those Hyundai ads (the think about it series) were meant to combat a "plateau" in Hyundai sales but I never thought it would come to this. However maybe this has to do with the creation of excess production capacity here in the USA
naggs
if i were in the market for this kind of car, picking up one of these below msrp is a total no brainer
smokefreak2003
The sales are down becuase the Middle American car market is suffering, due to high unemployment in states such as: Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania,and Illinois. Plus, the American car makers are making eye-candy cars with no substance: just tons of chrome. In addition, people like myself have bought 2007 Accents, as opposed to the Sonata for the gas mileage. Finally, the with the introduction of the new Elantra, people who are buying the Sonatas to get a big sedan feel with great gas mileage, now have a lower cost alternative. Most people who buy Hyundais are looking for reliable cars with 32+ MPG, without the over-inflated prices based on build quailty from cars made 20 years ago from auto manufacturers such as: VW, Toyota, Mazda, and, Nissan. (Though Honda still makes great cars.) I happen to be a second Hyundai owner, so of course I will sound biased.
-Always Drive Foreign,
Less Customers Will Teach the Big-3
How to make real cars again
Ducati Minor
"Plus, the American car makers are making eye-candy cars with no substance: just tons of chrome."
I laughed my ass off when I read that. That is all you hear from 1950s books and magazine writers: American cars are too big and all chrome. I don't agree, but I loved seeing it.
smokefreak2003
Well Ducati, not in the places where it should be. For as much as Cadillacs cost, they should be super chromed out, yet the Ford Fusion has tons of chrome. That is good on Ford's part. The problem is, why is there more chrome on an Aveo than a CTS? Example: One of the guys from British Top Gear (Not the Austrailian version that kisses the asses of American carmakers) stated: "If you buy the Cadillac youre saying no to the Audi, no to the Benz, no to the Infiniti, and the list goes on." What I mean about no substance, is how the EPA has made a complaint to the car industry as a whole, stating: "Car size has gone up, while fuel economy overall has gone down in the past 25 years." Why does a Toyota Corolla have the same gas mileage as a 25 year old Corolla, yet the size of the car has doubled?
-Always Drive Foreign,
Less Customers Will Teach the Big-3
How to make real cars again
smokefreak2003
Then again, I think a car with more than 150 Horsepower is excessive. From a fuel economy standpoint.
-Always Drive Foreign,
Less Customers Will Teach the Big-3
How to make real cars again
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