Nobody asked me but . . .

Hyundai has been selling cars in the US since 1986.  And after a bit of a sputtering start, the last decade has seen years of steady growth for Hyundai in this market.  Starting at a mere 0.6 percent market share in 1998, Hyundai reached 3.0 percent penetration in 2008 and in 2009, a year in which world-wide recession and plummeting auto sales affected virtually every auto maker in this market, Hyundai sales rocketed to a 4.2 percent share of market.

So what has Hyundai been doing right?  Seems like just about everything: Quality products competitively priced.  J.D. Power quality and North American Car of the Year Awards.  Attention grabbing warranty programs.  A job-loss vehicle return program.  Depreciation lower than Toyota and Ford.  High-tech powertrains.  Industry-leading fuel economy.  More standard features than the competition.  Leadership in active and passive safety technologies.  Oh, and did I mention styling?  Say hello to the eye-stopping 2011 Hyundai Sonata.

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