Hyundai Motor Co. and its corporate cousin Kia Motors Corp. said Monday they aim to increase sales and market presence in 2015 by adapting to global changes in consumer demand and by launching new cars that can better appeal to people around the world.
   
In a meeting of top executives representing Hyundai and Kia operations abroad, the two companies predicted overall global car sales to rise by 3.9 percent on-year to 87.1 million units, up from 80.99 million forecast for 2014.
  

The two firms, the flagships of Hyundai Motor Group, the world's fifth-largest automotive conglomerate in terms of sales, did not elaborate on their combined target for the New Year other than to say it will mark an increase from 8 million units it will likely sell this year.
   
It said the goal next year is to better meet consumer expectations in China and Europe and anticipate demand for more crossover SUVs and eco-friendly vehicles.
  

"Thanks to more carmakers who are expected to churn out 'green'
cars as well as more subsidies offered by the government, the global market for eco-friendly cars is expected to expand 22.2 percent on-year to 2.4 million in 2015, from around 1.96 million this year," the group said.
   
It added Hyundai Motor will challenge its rivals by launching a completely revamped version of its best-selling Avante compact, with its vehicle lineup being refreshed with the next generation Tucson ix.
   
The business group said Kia, too, will get a makeover with the launch of a brand new K5 and Sportage R crossover.
   
Avante is called the Elantra in some overseas markets, with the K5 being the local name for the Optimal midsize sedan.
   
Besides these conventional vehicles, Hyundai said it will launch its first-ever plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in the New Year for both the South Korean and U.S. markets. The PHEV will be based on the seventh-generation Sonata.
   
Kia said it plans to unveil an updated hybrid version of the K5, with the conglomerate planning to launch a dedicated compact hybrid that is similar to models released by Toyota and Honda. The Japanese have dominated the EV market.
  
On the sales target that surpasses this year's goal, group chairman Chung Mong-koo stressed that reaching the 8 million mark represents the start of a new era and not an end in itself.
  

"There is still a lot that needs to be done for us to be satisfied with the annual achievement," he said.
   
Originally, Hyundai and Kia wanted to achieve sales of 7.86 million units this year.
   
Chung told executives that with the global economy to post modest growth, and with the weaker Japanese yen persisting, the global demand for new cars remains uncertain.
   
He pointed out that sluggish conditions in developing countries could further affect sales.
  

"There is a need for all employees to prepare for the New Year, especially in key growth engine areas such as development and sales of eco-friendly cars," the chief executive emphasized. (Yonhap)