AMMAN -- Local owners of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata need not worry as the Korean automaker's distributor in Jordan confirmed Monday that Sonatas here are not affected by a steering problem.
On Sunday, US authorities announced that South Korea's Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) was recalling nearly 140,000 Sonata sedans of the 2011 model due to a problem in their steering columns.
Hassan Elian, director general of Unity Trading Establishment, Hyundai's distributor in Jordan, told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday that the recall included only cars assembled at the company's Alabama plant in the US, whereas all Hyundai cars in the Kingdom are brought directly from HMC's plant in South Korea.
There are 500 Hyundai Sonatas of the 2011 model in the Kingdom, Elian said, indicating that the price of this car is around JD30,000.
Demand is high on new Korean-made cars with engines smaller than 2,000cc, he noted, stating that since the beginning of 2009, a total of 20,000 new Hyundai cars have been imported into the local market, including sedans and SUVs.
According to experts in the automobile sector, sales of new cars in Jordan represent 15 to 25 per cent of overall car sales, while demand is significantly higher for used cars,. Experts say 80 per cent of the used cars sold locally are of Korean make because they are cheaper, noting that many Jordanians prefer to buy cars ranging in price between JD4,000 and JD6,000.
Nabil Rumman, president of the Jordan Free Zone Investors Association, said in previous remarks to The Jordan Times that during the first eight months of this year, over 52,000 used cars entered the local market.
Elian attributed the high demand on used cars to government policies governing the auto sector, which he criticised, elaborating that regulations allow the import of vehicles regardless of their manufacturing year, whereas he believes the maximum age of cars entering the local market should be between three and five years.
"There is a contradiction in the regulations that permits used cars [of any age] while prohibiting the import of tyres more than one year old," Elian added.
By Omar Obeidat
© Jordan Times 2010
