HYUNDAI Motor Co and affiliate Kia Motors Corp, South Korea's biggest auto makers, aim to increase sales 21 percent this year selling new cars and sport-utility vehicles in China, India and other overseas markets, Bloomberg News reported yesterday.

The auto makers expect to sell a combined 4.8 million vehicles globally this year, compared with an estimated 3.97 million for 2007, Seoul-based Hyundai Motor said in a statement. Hyundai will sell 3.11 million vehicles, a record.

Hyundai and Kia plan to release at least five new models, including the Genesis premium sedan and the Mohave SUV, this year to win customers from Toyota Motor Corp in China and overcome slower growth in the United States. Chairman Chung Mong-koo is relying on emerging markets to boost sales as consumers in the US, the world's largest auto market, may buy less cars.

"The target is an aggressive one," said Stephen Ahn, an analyst at Woori Investment & Securities Co in Seoul.

Car sales will fall this year in North America, Standard & Poor's said on December 20, citing an unclear economic outlook. US sales of cars and light trucks may drop to 15.5 million this year from 16 million in 2007.

"The cloudy outlook for US auto markets this year seem to pressure investor sentiment," said Nam Kyung Moon, an analyst at Meritz Securities Co in Seoul. Nam has a "hold" rating on the auto maker's stock.

Hyundai Motor didn't give a separate sales outlook for the US market, its second biggest. Its US sales grew 0.6 percent between January and November, the second-slowest pace since 1998.

High oil prices, an appreciation of the local currency and growing competition with Japanese and European auto makers are threats for the two Korean companies, Chairman Chung said.

"Despite the unfavorable environment, this year will be the starting point to prepare for the future," Chung told employees at the company's headquarters in Seoul.