The Chevrolet Impala — a large sedan launched by GM Korea in August — surpassed Hyundai Motor’s Aslan in sales volume last month, rising as a strong player in South Korea’s premium large sedan market.

A total of 1,644 units of the Impala were sold in September, compared to just 821 units of the Hyundai Aslan, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association.

Moreover, the Impala’s total sales have reached 11,000 units as of September, according to KAIDA. 

GM Korea debuted GM’s flagship large sedan model in Korea in late August, with an ambitious goal to lift its market share to 10 percent or more.

Eyeing Hyundai Motor’s Grandeur and Aslan sedans as rival models, the company adopted an unprecedented pricing policy for the Impala in Korea, setting the price here below that of the U.S. market.

Prices of the Chevrolet Impala range between 34.09 million won ($28,800) and 41.91 million won, depending on the options and trims, which can be up to 5 million won cheaper than in the U.S.

Moreover, industry watchers say GM Korea has successfully taken advantage of the improved perception of foreign vehicles in Korea, targeting a growing number of local drivers who want an imported vehicle without the high price tag or burdensome maintenance costs.

The Chevrolet Impala is manufactured in the United States and imported by GM Korea.

The continued popularity of the Chevrolet Impala has taken a significant toll on the Hyundai Aslan, which has been struggling to keep up its sales since its introduction last year.

Aiming to offer a domestic alternative to a growing number of imported cars, Hyundai launched its new sedan in October 2014, revealing ambitious plans to sell 1,800 units a month and 22,000 units by the end of 2015.

However, sales have declined. Though more than 1,000 Aslan sedans had been sold each month after the model’s launch in October 2014, its monthly sales have fallen below 1,000 units since March.

In a bid to boost sales, Hyundai Motor slashed the price of the lowest trim model to 38.9 million won, down by 2.3 percent from its original price of 39.9 million won, in May. The carmaker has also been offering an additional discount of 1 million won to Aslan customers who already own a Hyundai vehicle.

The company also began a promotional event last month to allow customers who purchase an Aslan the option of swapping the model with either a Genesis or Grandeur model within one month.

Despite Hyundai’s efforts to rev up sales, industry watchers project a bleak outlook for the Aslan, given the rising number of premium imported car options in similar price ranges.

Though introduced less than a year ago, the Aslan has already seen a steep markdown in prices — between 5 million to 10 million won — in the used car market, a significant drop for a relatively new car model, according to an official from Carz, a Korean used car website.

“The presence of a number of competitive large sedans including the popular GM Impala and the Kia K7 will cause Hyundai to face a fierce battle for customers this year,” the official said.

By Sohn Ji-young (jys@heraldcorp.com)