Seoul: GM Korea Co., the South Korean unit of General Motors Co., announced on Monday that its sales for October fell by 20.8 percent compared to the same period last year, a decline attributed to production disruptions linked to this year's wage negotiations.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the company reported sales of 39,630 vehicles last month, a decrease from 50,021 units sold in October of the previous year. Domestic sales experienced a significant drop of 39.5 percent, falling to 1,194 units from 1,974. Meanwhile, exports decreased by 20 percent, totaling 38,436 units, down from 48,047.

The Chevrolet Trax Crossover SUV was the top performer in overseas markets, with 24,271 units sold, followed by the Trailblazer compact SUV, which sold 14,165 units. Industry analysts attributed the sales decline to production setbacks caused by the union's partial strike over wage issues during the summer.

Gustavo Colossi, GM Korea's vice president of vehicle sales, service, and marketing, emphasized the company's commitment to enhancing customer satisfaction and expanding marketing efforts to build trust and increase product choice among consumers.

As part of its approach, GM Korea offers a mix of domestically assembled and imported vehicles in South Korea, which ranks as Asia's fourth-largest economy. The company's lineup includes two locally assembled models, the Trailblazer and the Trax Crossover, along with two imported models, the Colorado pickup and the GMC Sierra Denali.