Hyundai posts record sales in January

South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor said on Sunday that its China units posted record monthly sales in January despite a slowing economy in the world’s second-largest auto market, AFP reported. Hyundai sales at its China unit rose by 35% year-on-year to 42,790 vehicles last month. The Chinese unit of the firm’s sister company Kia Motors reported a 15% year-on-year sales increase to 17,607. Hyundai has raised its China sales target for 2009 by 22% to 360,000 vehicles. Kia aims to boost its sales by 30% to 185,000. China’s car market suffered slow sales growth in 2008 due to the global economic slowdown.