South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors Corp. are expected to log domestic sales of more than 1.2 million this year, aided by rising demand for SUVs and newly launched sedans, industry data showed Monday.
  

According to the data, the two automakers sold a combined 1.1 million units in the country in the first 11 months of the year. Hyundai Motor sold 632,000 units on its home turf through November, and Kia Motors shipped 474,000 units.
  

Their annual domestic sales, if things go smoothly, would break the 1.2-million mark this year for the first time in 19 years since their sales of 1.29 million units in 1996.
  

Hyundai is expected to sell some 68,000 units this month, similar to November's 65,000 units and October's 67,000 units.
  

Hyundai and Kia sold more than 1.2 million units between 1994 and 1996 but suffered a setback following an unprecedented financial crisis in late 1997 and increased competition from foreign automakers.
  

Their strong domestic sales are driven by solid demand for SUVs, such as the Carnival and the Sportage, and subcompact and mid-sized cars like the Avante.
  

Meanwhile, their global sales are likely to exceed the 8-million unit mark this year for the second consecutive year on the back of brisk demand for new cars.
  

In the first 11 months of the year, Hyundai and Kia sold a combined 7.19 million vehicles worldwide, down 0.8 percent from the same period a year earlier.
  

Despite the slight drop, the two carmakers will likely see their full-year sales hover just above 8 million, given the fact that car demand usually surges in December, according to the sources. Hyundai and Kia had originally targeted shipping 8.2 million units this year.
  

Last year, combined sales of Hyundai and Kia reached slightly over 8 million vehicles. (Yonhap)