Hyundai's scrappage sales soar

Hyundai has shipped in extra cars to cope with demand created by the UK scrappage scheme.

Orders for Hyundai models under the scheme have now topped 11,500, more than many big-name rivals.

The first of four ships loaded with new Hyundais docked at Tilbury in Essex and unloaded 1100 i10s, all of which have been sold through the scheme. More ships loaded with similar numbers of i10s and i20 models are due to arrive over the next three weeks.

Hyundai says that even this unprecedented re-stocking of showrooms will not be enough to satisfy the demand created by the scrappage scheme. As a result, further orders have been placed at the company's factories.

Tony Whitehorn, managing director of Hyundai UK, said: 'We had plans in place to make sure we were ready for scrappage, but the level of demand has shocked people who have been in the industry for decades.

'Customers are literally queuing up in front of salesmen's desks. Hyundai dealers have never seen anything like it and are taking on extra staff just to cope.'

Hyundai's i10 costs from £4995 including the scrappage allowance.