[Infostock Daily= a professional reporter Song Jeong-hoon] Hyundai will supply the new Sonata to Saudi Arabia by taxi. Saudi Arabia is considered to be the largest market in the Middle East, and it is meaningful that Hyundai is the second largest Middle East supply contract after the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Hyundai Motor announced on March 3 that it has signed a contract to supply 1,000 new Sonatas to Al Saf, one of the largest transportation companies in Saudi Arabia, at King Khalid International Airport. Hyundai delivered 100 units to Al Saff on the day of the contract and 900 units will be supplied by the end of the year.
Hyundai Motor Airport taxi will be the first car maker to be supplied after Saudi Arabia's announcement of its new taxi policy.
The Saudi Arabian government recently reorganized its transportation system and limited the total operation period of taxis to only use vehicles within five years. In addition, state-of-the-art payments, interpreters, screen installation mandatory, and exterior color green unification were taken.
The new Sonata is already a popular vehicle in Saudi Arabia. At the Saudi International Motor Show held last December, the new Sonata was selected as the "Best Car in the 2020 sedan" by the local Automobile Journalists Association.
Hyundai Motor sold 125,625 vehicles, including Sonata, Kona and Santa Fe, in Saudi Arabia last year, accounting for 23.4% of the market. Among them, Sonata has continued to become popular since local sales in 2012, accounting for 25% of the local mid-size sedan cars last year.
Hyundai Motor is gaining popularity in the Middle East market, including the signing of a contract to supply 1232 Sonata Hybrid taxis to UAE Dubai last December.
“We are delighted that global customers who are looking for Saudi Arabia will be able to meet Sonatas at the airport and inform Hyundai’s leaping marketability,” said a Hyundai-Chae official. “We will be reborn as a trusted company in the Middle East market by preemptively responding to changes in Saudi Arabia’s transportation policy in the future.”
a professional reporter Song Jeong-hoon boxr@infostock.co.kr