Kia Motors America reported auto sales for the month of August totaling 25,065, a slight decrease (-6,7% ) from last year’s figures, when the company sold 26,874 vehicles.
Inspite of tough conditions on the world’s largest automotive market, Kia’s year-to-date sales show a 1.3 percent increase compared to last year. In the first eight months of the fiscal year, Kia Motors America sold 210,705 cars and SUVs.
Leading August passenger car sales are Spectra with 6,170 units sold and Optima, with sales of 3,807 units. Mid-sized Optima sedan is also the model to saw the highest jump in sales (+ 25%) compared to last year. Rio and Rondo also both had increases of 19 percent and 15.2 percent over the same period of last year with 3,590 and 3,508 units sold respectively.
As prices of gas go up, SUV sales continues to fall and this is also evident in Kia’s sales numbers for August. Both Kia SUVs, Sorento and Sportage, achieved lower sales compared to August last year, but it has happened for the first time this year that Sorento passed Sportage and landed a notch higher in the sales chart. Year-to-date statistics, however, reveals that Sportage still leads Sorento by about 10,000 units.
As we know Borrego started hitting Kia dealers last month, after it was officially unveiled to US press and consumers. Considering August was not yet it’s first full sales month, it did achieve quite an admirable number of 1,041 units sold. To achieve the forecasted yearly sales of 20,000 units, Borrego’s monthly sales will have to raise to 1800-2000 per month. Check out the August sales table.
MONTH OF AUGUST YEAR-TO-DATE Model 2008 2007 2008 2007 Rio 3,590 3,017 28,258 22,292 Spectra 6,170 6,834 55,037 49,761 Optima 3,807 3,040 38,873 28,017 Amanti 214 249 2,643 4,837 Sportage 2,845 4,109 26,132 32,067 Sorento 3,041 3,557 17,473 26,438 Sedona 886 3,023 19,210 29,281 Rondo 3,508 3,045 22,038 15,263 Borrego 1,004 n/a 1,041 n/a
Total 25,065 26,874 210,705 207,956
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September 3rd, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Regardless of sales going down. For a new BOF Borrego and aged out Sorento with Gas at $4.00 a gallon I’m impressed. But I been seeing a lot of Rondo’s on the road the last two weeks. I seen way more Rondo’s than Mazda 5s now!!!. And Besides, they out did the year to date already and they are only 1,809 untis less from last year. It’s not like their sales are off like GM, Ford or Chrysler.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Mazda 5′s sales for August in the US were 1,324 vs the Rondo’s 3,508 – quite a difference!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Hey, thanks for that Mazda5/Rondo comparo stat for Aug.’08, conwelpic! That is a clarification of any corn-fusion that Mazda lovers might hoist on you to believe. Nice to see that its as it should be-Kia Motors and their Rondo on top. As for all of the year’s stats-keep chugging along, Kia. I think those stats are good and show promise of potential increase ahead for these craftsmen of automobiles that call themselves Kia Motors of South Korea. I tip my Foghat to them with glee!!
September 4th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Because the Forte is all over the internet, I’m not suprised about why the current Spectra sells are a little down. I’m more surpised of hardly seeing a differance in sells of the current Spectra after the Forte occured. It’s really the Sedona for not meeting with ends of sells. But like I said before, it’s not nearly as bad as other manufactorers.
I seen worst selling BOF SUVs CUVs and MPVs than this. MUCH WORST.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:27 am
They just plain ran out of cars. You can’t find a new 08 Spectra or Rio or 4cyl Rondo or Optima anywhere.Viva 2009!
September 4th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Wait til the election is over, then the people will start buying again, don’t forget little billy and sally need school clothes, so sales always drop this time of year
September 4th, 2008 at 8:28 am
I dont usually comment on sales reports but I must say that Borrego has done better than I expected in its first month. I was expecting around 700-800. BTW, what exactly does year-to-date mean?
September 6th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Boris, it means sales from Jan.’08 up through Aug.’08. They are very cool stats to review and carmakers really anticipate looking at them as soon as they are available, as well as car analysts, Motor Trend, Car and Driver, etc., etc.