Sales of South Korean carmakers move up 8.5% in March

Sales of South Korean automakers rose 8.5 percent last month from a year earlier, helped by consumer interest in newly released models and generally strong demand from overseas markets, data showed Tuesday. Combined sales of five local car manufacturers, including market leader Hyundai Motor Co., reached 788,922 vehicles in March, up from 727,159 units a year ago. The total excludes knockdown kits shipped abroad for assembly. During the same period, domestic sales rose 2.7 percent to 121,416 units, while overseas sales, which count both exports and cars made in foreign countries, were up 9.6 percent to 667,506 vehicles.