South Korea ’ s hybrid car sales in November turned out to have grown although Korea ’ s car market contracted from the previous month . Korea ’ s five carmakers ’ domestic sales in November posted 115 , 273 units , down 4 . 7 percent from the previous month , according to the industry ’ s report Sunday . However , hybrid car sales recorded 1 , 734 units , up 28 . 9 percent from October ’ s 1 , 345 units . Hyundai ’ s hybrid cars took the lead in the growth of hybrid car sales . Sales of Hyundai ’ s Sonata Hybrid had been below 1 , 000 units in September and October . However , the Sonata Hybrid sales volume in November rose 73 . 6 percent from October , recording 1 , 031 units . Sonata Hybrid sales crossed the 1 , 000 - unit mark for the first time in three months , and the proportion of Sonata Hybrid sales in the entire Sonata sales jumped from October ’ s 6 . 8 percent to 11 . 7 percent in November . Kia ’ s K 5 Hybrid sales contracted by 9 . 2 percent , posting 543 units in November , but compared to the decline of the entire K 5 sales ( - 21 . 6 percent ) , the decrease was relatively narrow . Hybrid cars are costlier at an initial stage of purchase , but the sales of hybrid cars recovered in demand due mainly to hybrid cars ’ higher fuel efficiency than small - size gasoline cars , a government support towards the hybrid car consumers to exempt acquisition taxes below 1 . 4 million won ( $ 1 , 241 . 1 ) , and strengthened marketing strategy of the carmakers , according to the industry ’ s analysis . “ The hybrid car sales were sluggish in September and October because consumers were highly unfamiliar with hybrid cars and its new fuel . However , carmakers strengthened their marketing strategies of hybrid cars and put emphasis on the cars ’ economical advantage , ” a Hyundai - Kia official said . “ In order to expand the hybrid car market , not only should car manufacturers make efforts , but consumers ’ awareness of eco - friendly vehicles needs to change ” . [ Written by Ha ’ eun Bang / edited by Soyoung Chung ] ▶ [ 화보 ] 배우 최정윤 결혼식 , 첩보 작전 이 따로 없 네 ▶ 토요일 에 출근 한 JY " 인사 는 … "▶ 원더걸스 , 2 주 연속 1 위 ` 명실상부 걸 그룹 위엄 지켰 다 `▶ 작곡가 조영수 , 2011 년 저작권료 1 위 … 5 년 연속 정상 ▶ [ 화보 ] 얼짱 시대 6 출연자 한 명 씩 신상 털기 들어가 보 니 … [ ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk . co . kr , All rights reserved ]