Despite record sales of 91.96 trillion won ($76.45 billion) in 2015, Hyundai Motor’s operating profits plunged 15.8 percent from a year ago, the lowest level since 2010.

The nation’s largest carmaker recorded a 3 percent increase in sales from a year ago, however its operating profits shrank to 6.36 trillion won, the company said Tuesday.

Last year, the nation’s top automaker sold around 4.96 million cars globally, almost the same level of sales tallied a year earlier.

Its overseas shipments of locally-produced vehicles shrank 3.4 percent on-year, the company said.

The continued fall in operating profit panned concerns over falling profitability of Hyundai Motor. The firm’s profit margin fell to 6.9 percent last year, a 1.5 percent drop from the same period in 2014.

“Weakening currencies in emerging markets, intensifying competition in the major overseas markets and growing promotion budget on new cars dealt a blow to the firm’s profitability last year,’’ company officials said.

Net profit of the automaker also slid 14.9 percent to 6.5 trillion won last year.

Despite falling profitability, the automaker promised to raise dividend payments to investors in its efforts to lift its stock price.

In a similar move, it decided to pay its first interim dividend in its history last July following the second quarter performance report.

The higher dividend payment plan, however, failed to lift shares of the automaker. Shares of Hyundai Motor fell to 136,000 won on Tuesday, a 1.09 percent drop from the previous day.

When it comes to the business outlook this year, stock market watchers said the automaker could see a business upturn from the second quarter with the expected boost in sales of new cars, including Genesis 90 (EQ900 in Korea) sedan, its newly-launched first model of luxury brand Genesis.

For the business upturn, the company officials said that the automaker will focus on enhancing its future competitiveness and consolidate the sustainable growth base this year.

“We will put a focus on expanding the market for luxury and sport utility vehicle models,” the company officials said.

Hyundai Motor aims to sell 5.01 million cars at home and abroad this year which includes 693,000 units in the domestic market.

By Seo Jee-yeon (jyseo@heraldcorp.com)