SOUTH Korea’s Hyundai Motor saw its net profit nearly triple in the first quarter, it said today, as it recovered from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hyundai, which with its affiliate Kia is among the world’s top 10 carmakers, saw its net profit leap 175.4% year on year to 1.52 trillion won (RM5.6 billion), it said in a regulatory filing.  

Vehicle sales rose more than 10% to just over one million units – with revenues up 8%, it added, as consumer sentiment rebounded.

“Robust sales of SUV models and Genesis luxury models as well as increasing total sales volume helped lift revenue,” it said in a press release.

But it warned that the global chip shortage could impact its performance going forward, along with continuing uncertainty from the pandemic.

It would “flexibly adjust” its production keeping an eye on chip inventory, it said.

Hyundai has suspended operations at its Asan assembly line twice this month alone, each lasting two days, due to the shortage of chips, disrupting the production of over 4,000 cars.

Hyundai Motor shares closed up 0.2% in Seoul. – AFP, April 22, 2021.