KIA SALES FOR 2018

KIA BUCKS THE MARKET WITH ANOTHER RECORD YEAR FOR SALES

• Kia records 95,764 sales in 2018
• Total sales up by 2.7 per cent over 2017
• Sales up in UK new car market down by 6.8 per cent

Kia Motors (UK) Limited achieved another new sales record in 2018 with 95,751 vehicles delivered to customers – an increase of 2.7 per cent over 2017’s record total of 93,222.

Despite the new car market being down by 6.8 per cent in the year, Kia’s product onslaught allowed the brand to out-perform expectations by growing its market share to 4.0 per cent.

The marque’s best-seller was once again Sportage – which received a face-lift mid-year – with more than 35,500 customers choosing the brand’s compact SUV, helping it to gain 10 place in the best-seller chart. The ever-popular Picanto held on to its place as second-best seller with more than 16,800 sold. The all-new Ceed and its predecessor variant was third with over 9,800 delivered to owners. Stonic and the Niro family of hybrid variants completed Kia’s Top Five.

Paul Philpott, President and Chief Executive commented: “We are delighted to achieve another new record and we are grateful to all of our customers – old and new – for their faith in our growing range of products and our outstanding 192-strong dealer network. I think our success shows that in a time of economic uncertainty a great customer experience, thoroughly modern and advanced product and an industry leading warranty has strong appeal to both retail and business buyers.

“We had a very busy 2018, replacing the European designed, engineered and built Ceed family and introducing a face-lifted version of Sportage – including our first 48volt mild hybrid. There are other versions of Ceed to come in 2019 and we are eagerly awaiting the first deliveries of our 282-mile range e-Niro that will make anxiety-free electric driving a reality for the mainstream car buyer.

“But we are not going to sit back on our laurels and along with our dealer network we shall be looking to make Kia ownership ever more appealing for customers with more advanced electric technology due over the next few years and in 2019 we want to continue to grow – taking us ever-closer to our stated goal of 100,000 sales a year by the end of the decade,” he added.

The 2018 total marks the seventh record year in a row for Kia and brings the brand’s total UK sales close to the one million mark since its first arrival in 1991.

Coming during the first quarter of 2019 is the sleek ProCeed five-door shooting-brake to add flexibility and style to the family saloon segment, followed almost immediately by the battery-powered e-Niro to complete the three-model electric-focused Niro family.

In addition a fourth body-style is due to be added to the Ceed family before the end of 2019 and Kia has confirmed that the recently revealed new Soul EV is destined for British showrooms as soon as supply allows around the end of the year.

 

KIA DELIVERS ITS 1 MILLIONTH CAR IN THE UK

• Kia reaches 1 million cars sold since 1991
• Sportage GT-Line delivered to customer in Scotland
• First car in the UK was a Kia Pride

Kia Motors (UK) Limited has hit the 1 million car landmark in the UK in January 2019 – less than 30 years after the first Kia Pride was brought to British motorists.

In 1991 the Korean brand was launched and 1,786 cars were sold in the UK – last year, 2018, the company hit another record sales volume of 95,764 bringing its overall total since that first Pride to 998,069.

In the marque’s first decade in the UK just under 50,000 cars were sold. After 20 years Kia had delivered 372,000 cars to UK customers. The sales-pace accelerated after the opening of the company’s plant in Slovakia in 2006 and during the last eight years around 626,000 cars have come to the UK.

Now a customer in Scotland, Dr Fergus Duncan has become the proud owner of a blue Sportage GT-Line model delivered by Kia dealer Flear and Thompson of Dunfermline marking the 1 million car mark.

Paul Philpott, President and Chief Executive at Kia in the UK said: “This is a remarkable milestone and all of us at Kia are extremely proud to have reached this momentous moment inside three decades.

“The Kia brand started in the UK with sensible, budget-focused vehicles but during the last decade in particular our customer-base has grown on the back of outstanding design, unmatchable quality and the reassurance of our industry-leading seven year warranty.

“I don’t know just when we will reach the 2 million mark, but we are all looking forward to the journey to that point and it will be an exciting ride that I am sure will see the nature of the motoring world change quite considerably,” he added.

Philpott announced the landmark was about to be reached during Kia’s National Dealer Conference in Liverpool – the brand’s biggest-ever event with more than 850 delegates from the 192-strong dealer network attending.

Kia’s biggest selling car in that total is Sportage with 241,912 sold since 1995. Picanto ranks second with 191,926 sold since 2004 and cee’d has sold 138,253 since its launch in 2007.

 

KIA MOTORS EUROPE ACHIEVES RECORD 2018 SALES AND ITS TENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF GROWTH

• Record European sales of 494,304 cars last year – a rise of 4.7% over 2017
• 2018 marks a decade of growth; sales more than double since 2008
• Kia Motors UK contributes almost 20% of all European sales
• Market share grows to 3.2% as Kia outperforms European market
• 36.0% rise in sales of hybrid, plug-in and electric cars in last 12 months
• Strong sales of crossover models and new Ceed
• 2019 sees launch of new ProCeed and additional electrified powertrains

Kia Motors achieved record European sales (494,304 units) and its tenth consecutive year of growth in Europe in 2018, according to new data released today by the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association)*.

The full-year sales result represents a 4.7% year-on-year increase for the Korean car manufacturer, pushing the brand’s European market share to an all-time high of 3.2%. In the last decade, Kia’s European sales have more than doubled – in 2008 the brand sold 238,643 units and accounted for 1.6% of all registrations across the continent.

Kia largest European sales market, the UK, contributed another national record amount of sales, posting 95,764 units sold in 2018, accounting for almost 20% (19.2%) of all European sales.

The launch of a comprehensive range of crossovers and electrified powertrains in the last two years has added further momentum to Kia’s growth, despite challenging market conditions.

Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe, comments: “Kia is the only car brand to have enjoyed European sales growth in each year over the last decade. The quality, design and character of our growing vehicle line-up have helped us consistently outperform the wider market, helping us to double our market share since 2008.”

Mr Herrera adds: “Legacy vehicles such as the Ceed and Sportage have proven increasingly successful, while the launch of new models and the development of a compelling brand strategy has accelerated our popularity. In recent years, a growing line-up of electrified vehicles, accompanied by cutting-edge in-car technologies, has added further impetus to our growth. Furthermore, buyers are drawn to Kia’s 7-Year, 100,000 mile warranty, which to this day remains unrivalled across the car industry.

“In 2018 we grew sales of the Niro and Stonic in particular, while new models such as the Ceed and Stinger, and the revitalised Sportage and Picanto ranges, have also attracted interest from quality-conscious drivers. 2019 starts with the launch of the new ProCeed, and, later this year, additional new models and a broader range of electrified powertrains.”

36.0% rise in sales for electrified vehicles
Sales of Kia’s hybrid, plug-in and electric cars grew by more than a third in 2018 compared to 2017, with 58,029 electrified vehicles sold. Advanced powertrain vehicles now account for almost an eighth (11.7%) of all Kia sales in Europe.

The Niro crossover became Kia’s fifth best-selling model in 2018, with sales rising 33.6% to 45,255 units – including 34,642 hybrids and 9,951 plug-in hybrids. The Niro range expanded at the very end of 2018, with the launch of the all-electric e-Niro – 662 of which were sold in select European markets when sales began in December.

In its final calendar year on-sale, the all-electric Soul EV saw best-ever sales of 6,402 units (+12.0% year-on-year). For the first time in its history, the EV model also outsold combined sales of gasoline and diesel examples of the Soul. The Optima Plug-in Hybrid – available as a sedan and Sportswagon – saw record sales (4,573 units; +49.1% year-on-year), alongside 1,799 units of the Sportage EcoDynamics+, introduced in summer 2018 and powered by a 48-volt mild-hybrid.

2019 will see the introduction of a series of new Kia mild-hybrid, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, as well as the launch of the new all-electric Soul.

Strong start of sales for new Ceed; new ProCeed on-sale in January
Sales of the new Kia Ceed and Ceed Sportswagon are off to a strong start, with 24,531 registrations across Europe since deliveries commenced in the second half of 2018. Total Ceed sales in 2018 (including the outgoing cee’d model family) totalled 75,479 units, up from 72,105 units in 2017. Sales of the new Ceed GT, Ceed GT Line, and ProCeed start this month, and will strengthen the Ceed’s position in the segment and as the brand’s second best-selling model in Europe, after the Sportage (125,266 units in 2018).

Major sales growth for Stonic and Picanto
The Picanto strengthened its position as Kia’s third best-selling European model following the introduction of the crossover-inspired Picanto X-Line and a 100 ps 1.0-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine to the line-up. Sales of the Picanto rose 19.3% year-on-year to 75,315 units.

Since deliveries began in late 2017, the Kia Stonic compact crossover has also made a strong impression on European customers, with 55,742 units sold last year – making it Kia’s fourth best-selling model in its first year on sale. 2018 was also the first full year of sales for the powerful Stinger fastback sports sedan, with 3,853 units sold in Europe.

 

KIA MOTORS AMERICA ANNOUNCES DECEMBER SALES

IRVINE, Calif., January 3, 2019 – Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced December sales of 47,428 vehicles, representing a 10.2-percent increase over the same period last year. Highlights of Kia’s 2018 sales total of 589,673 units include:

• Best-ever annual sales for the Sportage CUV
• A 37-percent increase in sales of the Rio Subcompact
• Forte, Optima and Soul surpassing the 100,000-unit mark for the third consecutive year

“2018 was a year where the Kia brand continued to defy consumer and industry expectations by once again outranking all other non-luxury brands in initial quality and taking the number two spot in dependability, according to J.D. Power,” said Bill Peffer, vice president, sales operations, KMA. “In addition, the Sorento was the top selling model and the Sportage saw a double-digit sales increase setting the stage for the highly anticipated Telluride, which is slated to debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit later this month. With a host of new and refreshed product introductions scheduled throughout 2019, Kia’s world-class model line-up will continue to lead the industry in design, quality, advanced technology and value.”

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