SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's auto industry activity contracted last month on the back of partial strikes of major carmakers, a government report showed Thursday.
Auto production tumbled 20.6 percent from a year earlier to 272, 744 vehicles in August, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The reduction came as labor unions of some automakers went on a partial strike last month. Less business days from summer vacation also contributed to weaker activity.
Car output of top automaker Hyundai Motor shrank 18.9 percent, with those for Kia Motors and Renault Samsung reducing 9.1 percent and 10.1 percent respectively.
Auto exports plunged 18.8 percent in August, but local car sales edged down 1.6 percent as imported car sales kept a double- digit growth trend for 11 months in a row.
Auto parts exports declined 9.6 percent from a year earlier to 1.92 billion U.S. dollars in August.
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