Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors Corp. took the lead in the U.S. midsize auto market in November on the back of their improved product quality and revamped line-ups, industry data showed Sunday.

According to the data, South Korea's two largest automakers sold a combined 31,222 midsize sedans in the U.S. last month, relegating Toyota Motor Corp. to the second spot for the first time since October last year. 

The November figure also marks a 13.9-percent rise from the previous month's tally, according to the data.

Last month, sales of midsize sedans in the U.S. shrank 1.4 percent on-month.

A total of 18,515 Hyundai's Sonata sedans were sold in the U.S.

last month, up 19 percent from the previous month, and Kia sold a total of 12,707 Optima sedans, also up 7.3 percent over the cited period, the data showed.

Toyota sold some 28,846 mid-sized sedans in the world's second-largest auto market last month, down from the previous month's 33,164 units.

Hyundai's Sonata and Kia's Optima are in fierce competition in the U.S. against Toyota's Camry, Nissan Motor Co.'s Altima, Honda Motor Co.'s Accord and other models.

The data showed Toyota has kept its top spot in the U.S. midsized sedan auto market this year with cumulative sales of some 397,000 units through November, followed by Honda with 357,000 units and Hyundai-Kia with 346,000 units. (Yonhap)