Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s largest automaker, has overtaken GM Holden Ltd., the Australian unit of General Motors, in sales of cars in Australia for the first time in March, industry data showed Monday.

Hyundai Motor maintained fourth place in sales of cars in Australia by selling a total of 8,402 units in March, up 7.6 percent from a year ago. Sales of Hyundai’s Tucson ix35 sports utility vehicle reached 1,529 in March, up 83 percent from a year ago.

GM Holden trailed behind Hyundai by selling a total of 8,283 vehicles in March, down 18.8 percent from a year ago, according to the industry data.

Still, GM Holden was ahead of Hyundai in cumulative sales in the three months through March 31. The Australian unit of General Motors sold 24,777 vehicles between January and March, compared with Hyundai’s 22,723 units during the cited period.

Japanese carmakers kept the top three places in sales of cars in March by taking advantage of a weaker Japanese yen.

Toyota Motor Corp. topped the Australian market for car sales in March with 18,653, followed by Mazda Motor Corp. with 9,112 units and Nissan Motor Co. with 8,408 vehicles, according to the data.

Hyundai’s sister company Kia Motors Corp. came in 11th place by selling 2,643 units in March. (Yonhap News)