Kia Motors Corporation announced its global sales (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants) of passenger cars, recreation vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles in July 2008 recorded 122,230, representing a 24.1% year-on-year increase.
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 124,058 units sold. It is followed by a close group of three vehicles: the B-segment Rio at 94,340, the C-segment cee’d at 91,857 and Kia’s Sportage compact SUV at 87,547. Meanwhile the A-segment Picanto continues to perform well with 61,498 units sold.
By region, Kia posted large, year-on-year sales increases in China (11,110 units, a 114.1% year-on-year increase), Korea (27,514 units, a 37.5% year-on-year increase) and general markets (22,973 units, a 37.3% year-on-year increase). Sales increases were also significant in Europe and North America where 28,670 (8.4% year-on-year increase) and 31,963 (6.2% year-on-year increase) Kia vehicles were sold in July, respectively.
Cumulatively, through the first seven months of 2008, Kia’s global sales increased by 16.9% year-on-year and reached 839,384 units. China (90,863 units sold) and general markets (142,402 units sold) have experienced the largest gains of 42.7%, and 33.3%, respectively. Cumulative year-on-year sales increases have also been experienced in all other sales regions: Korea (18.2% gain with 181,544 units sold); Europe (12.4% gain with 216,332 units sold); and North America (3.5% gain with 208,243 units sold).
“As we enter the second half of 2008, we continue to experience strong sales growth across all markets, and we have achieved consistently high and significant year-on-year gains in China and general markets in particular. These results represent great performance by our sales team, especially given the difficult industry environment.” said Hyoung-Keun Lee, Senior Executive Vice President, International Business Division. [Source: Kia]
August 13th, 2008 at 4:18 am
Nice!! Kia~ Way to go!!
And here’s some new Soul photos from Auto Express. Check out guys
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/spyshots/226023/kia-soul.html
August 13th, 2008 at 8:35 am
China is buying Kia vehicles almost twice as fast in 2008 than they did in 2007! Magentis/Optima is July’s 5th best seller. Kia Stopped making the pre-facelift Optima I think, and they way Optima’s are selling, they are going to run out! Do any Kia salesmen have the monthly figures for you dealership? Colby?
August 14th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
We sell probly about 20-30 Optimas a month. We are being hit hard right now with the economy because West Chester is a high class business area. Alot of business here is slowing down. We have gone to selling 100-150 cars a month to about 80 New Kia’s. It is picking up due to my incredible Internet Managing Skills. I am #1 in the nation YTD with internet sales from Kia. They are doing an article on us in the Kia Magazine either this up coming issue or the one after. My Department internet closing ratio for June was 34% the next store below us in the nation was 18%. This is what is keeping us afloat right now. But our business is still doing well. We are selling more used and certified vehicles now than last year.
August 14th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
We sell more Sportages and Spectras. Almost 70% of our business are these 2 models.
August 14th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
What about Amanti and Sorento, how do these two models sell at your dealership? Are there many people who bring back these two models to buy something smaller ( like Rio or Spectra) from Kia?
August 15th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Spectras aren’t selling to well lately in N. Michigan. Williams only has 20 of them on the lot.
August 15th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Actually, Williams Amanti sales are up 500% in Traverse City. Sorento sales are slightly down though. Rondo is a big seller, as is Sportage, but Optima outsells them all. I just saw the most beautiful Optima the other day. It has App Pkg, Rear Spoiler, V6, Tinted windows, Grey in color, window, hood and sunroof deflectors. Best looking Kia I have ever seen.
August 15th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
We do not sell Amanti’s here. We keep 1 or 2 on the lot. We sell about 30-35 Spectra’s a month and only have 9 left on our lot. We sell out of spectras and sportages about every month and area always getting truck loads of them in.