By region, Kia’s posted large, year-on-year sales increases in China (13,824 units, a 76.8% year-on-year increase), in general markets (25,142 units sold, a 36.9% year-on-year increase) and Korea (25,754 units sold, a 17.0% year-on-year increase). Sales increases were also significant in North America where 32,064 (8.0% year-on-year increase) Kia vehicles were sold in June. Meanwhile, sales in Europe were 32,659 units (2.6% year-on-year decrease).
Cumulatively through the first six months of 2008, Kia’s global sales increased by 15.8% year-on-year and reached 717,154 units. China (79,753 units sold) and general markets (119,429 units sold) have experienced the largest gains of 36.4%, and 32.6%, respectively. Cumulative year-on-year sales increases have also been experienced in the other market territories: Korea (15.3% gain from 154,030 units sold); Europe (13.1% gain from 187,662 units sold); and North America (3.0% gain from 176,280 units sold).
So far in 2008, Kia’s best selling model in overseas markets has been the C-segment Cerato (known as ‘Spectra’ in some markets) with 108,317 units sold. It is followed by the B-segment Rio (79,820 units sold) and the C-segment cee’d (78,571 units sold). Kia’s Sportage compact SUV and the A-segment Picanto round out the top five best selling models with 74,496 and 54,220 units sold, respectively.By vehicle category sold overseas, Kia’s passenger cars sold 68,913 units in June, an increase of 32.3% year-on-year.
Hyoung-Keun Lee, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Kia Motors International Business Division, said, “At the half-way mark of the year, we are encouraged by our consistent overseas sales
growth in all our major market territories. These results are very promising in what are very challenging times for the industry. With new models such as the Mohave (Borrego) SUV, redesigned Optima
(Magentis) sedan and refreshed ‘09 model year Sportage to arrive in dealer showrooms in the coming months, we remain optimistic about the outlook for the remainder of the year.”
