Autos and parts exports are expected to reach $43 billion this year, making up 13 percent of Korea’s

overall exports projected at $326 billion, according to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association

(KAMA) on Friday.  Auto exports are projected to hit a record high of 2.67 million units this year.

Last year, Korean overseas autos and parts sales were $38 billion. Automobiles have been the No.1 export

item since 2001 when leading carmakers started to rev up their global sales networks after coming out of

the 1997-98 financial pitfall. Korea is the world’s fifth biggest car manufacturer, following the United States,

Japan, Germany and France as of last year.