Hyundai expects '09 China sales to jump 83 pct

SEOUL Nov 12 (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor Group, South Korea's top carmaker, said on Thursday it expects car sales in China this year to jump 83 percent from 2008, led by new models and as economic stimulus measures spur demand in the country.

Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) and Kia Motors Corp (000270.KS), the world's No.4 car maker together based on the first half sales, sees combined sales of 800,000 vehicles in the world's top car market this year, compared with 436,514 units last year, the group said in a statement.

In China, Hyundai has sold 460,000 cars in the first 10 months of the year, up 89.3 percent from a year ago, with Kia's sales up 55.3 percent during the period.

Shares in Hyundai ended down 3.3 percent at 102,000 won and Kia fell 2.2 percent to 17,700 won, both underperforming a 1.4 percent fall in the wider market .KS11. (Reporting by Cheon Jong-woo; Editing by Lincoln Feast)