THE Pacific

South Korea’s production of motor vehicles since the start of this year reached 1,000,660 last week, hitting 1 million annually for the first time, auto makers reported.

The tally is expected to reach 1.09 million vehicles by year-end, compared to the previous annual record of 979,739 vehicles in 1987.

A series of labor protests early this year reduced car production by 200,000, but Korean auto makers increased output in the latter half to exceed the milestone, industry officials said.

Hyundai Motor Co. thus far has produced 594,645 vehicles; Kia Motors Corp., 225,267, and Daewoo Motor Co., 150,047 vehicles. The remainder is from other small auto makers in South Korea.