Hyundai sets all-time monthly sales record

Hyundai's status as the fastest-growing carmaker doesn't show any signs of slowing down. The South Korean manufacturer sold 69,728 cars in March 2012, a sales month  record. The mark 13 percent better than March 2011, the company's previous best sales month.

For the first quarter 2012, Hyundai sales have increased 15 percent over 2011 and overall retail sales through dealerships have risen 33 percent over last March.

“As Hyundai continues to offer more fuel-efficient vehicles, we are seeing more and more consumers in our showrooms, resulting in greater 40-mpg highway vehicle sales than ever before,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. “Our 40-mpg vehicle sales are up an astonishing 67.5 percent over last March.”

Here are Hyundai's comparative sales numbers from 2011 to 2012. The columns in order are March 2012 sales, March 2011 sales, 2012 first quarter sales and 2011 first quarter sales:

Accent, 8,337, 5,739, 18,484, 14,486; Azera, 128, 199, 159, 522; Elantra, 19,681, 19,255, 44,401, 41,203; Equus, 352, 241, 928, 728; Genesis, 3,429, 2,664, 8232, 6,888; Santa Fe, 5,853, 5,701, 14,535, 14,392; Sonata, 23,281, 22,894, 55,195, 51,878; Tucson, 4,197, 4,508, 11,049, 10,713; Veloster (new for 2012), 3,848, NA, 8,781, NA; Veracruz, 622, 672, 1,809, 1,809

TOTALS 69,728, 61,873, 163,573, 142,620