South Korea's leading car makers Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp announced they saw significant sales growth in China for the past year, though the global auto market were falling into the financial crisis in 2008, according to Yonhap South Korean news agency.

Dongfeng Yueda Kia Automobile Co, a joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Corp and Korean Kia Motors, will make and sell the all-new Kia Forte and Soul compact cars in China next year, reported the Beijing Times today. The upgraded Kia Optima is also likely to be made by the venture for its better sales in the China market.