But **Hyundai Australia’s operating boss says the brand’ – which has been described as ‘healthy rivalry’ with sister brand Kia, is hoping for a stronger presence at the top of sales charts. *****
Speaking with childcareman.xyz at the launch of the new Elexio electric SUV, Hyundai Australia chief operating officer Gavin Donaldson said: “I want to beat everyone.”
“Sales are always a key part of the business” . When you look at sales, I’m always in a competition–it doesn’t matter what brand you don’re against.’ Mr Donaldson said ‘I think when you see the sale and that is not an issue of being competitive with it.
childcareman.xyz can save you thousands on a new car. Click
here
to get a great deal.
“I think there’s a good rivalry [between Hyundai and Kia] I think we have. All said and done, I look at Hyundai and Kia when you combine the results we’re a very strong, extremely powerful (very relevant car company in Australia) really good.
It’s always my belief [that] I want to beat everyone, a team well over there [at Kia]. Sadly, I don’t get down on what results are at the end of day… just look at what we can do and ensure that we have the best result every month.’ Mr Donaldson added ‘I am very much in love with this phrase but you know it is not me who has been asked to explain how well they will give us our best outcome.
In 2023, Kia beat Hyundai in the local sales race and has led its sister brand ever since.
Asked about the brand’s broader ambition of combating the likes of Toyota, Ford and Mazda for the overall sales podium, Mr Donaldson said ‘I never put a ceiling on what [Hyundai’ is] aspirations are.
The product portfolio is the key to getting you there,’ he said “You have to have that product Portfolio. You can always do the volume you want to get, but you’re looking for product portfolio.
Toyota is always going to be very hard to beat,’ . And they are where they belong for a reason. We are five but I want to be four. Yep, we’re a number 5 and yes? Do you think I should be in position three? Does Mr Donaldson continue to say I would like to take two? Yeah, a .
Hyundai Tucson
We will always evaluate our performance based on the results we receive – I won’t be [worried] about the scorecard whether we’re [second, third, fourth or fifth] or are.
“But I’m very competitive, and I’d like to make sure we get the best result that we can.”
Hyundai sold 77,208 new cars in 2025, 7 at the time of its registration for . The total manufacturer standings for the calendar year are 7 per cent up on 2024’s result and fifth behind Toyota (239,863), Ford (94,339), Mazda (91,923) and Kia (82,105) – after its sales of an automobile.
Outgunned by its Korean sister brand in the general standings, Hyundai posted some wins in this hybrid space, second behind Toyota overall hybrid sales with 28,851 sales, up 92-902 total. Year ago 8 per cent on the year before, .
Leading the charge were the Tucson (10,556) and Kona (10,407) hybrid SUVs, which outgunned the Toyota Camry (9838), Yaris Cross (9409) and Kluger (7817) – all of which have recently moved to hybrid-only lineups.
Hyundai i30 Hatch
Much of Kia’s lead over Hyundai is down to the Carnival people mover, which outsold the van-based Hyundai Staria by nearly 10-to-1 (10,948 v 1205).
Further, the enduringly popular Kia Picanto city hatch doesn’t have a Hyundai equivalent, with 7166 sales for the year almost equalling Hyundai’s cheapest car, the Venue SUV (7927). Kia also posted 6515 sales in the light SUV segment with its Venue-rivalling Stonic.
So far in 2026, Hyundai is showing promising growth. It posted year-over-year growth of 6.9 per cent in January to 5856 units, led by strong performances by the Kona and Tucson, as well as the new Palisade SUVs. Still, it was 800 units off Kia, which managed 6600 units (up 15.4 per cent).
Hyundai has also just ended production of non-performance versions of the popular i30 Hatch, which could lose it decent volume over the coming 12 months, with no direct replacement planned as yet.
Stay tuned to childcareman.xyz for all the latest.
MORE:
Explore the Hyundai showroom
Thanks for reading Hyundai wants to beat Kia in the Australian sales race
