ARI SHAPIRO, Host: The news comes as a leading rival, Japanese carmaker Toyota struggles with financial losses and a massive recall of its most popular cars.
The South Korean carmaker says profits in the fourth quarter nearly quadrupled from a year earlier. Hyundai — which also owns Kia — gained market share during the recession. Consumers turned to its smaller and lower priced cars — boosting not only profits but also Hyundai's image.