Comments on: Kia Motors America October 2008 sales off 38%

By: BJD(Boris)

BJD(Boris) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:39:28 +0000

Mazda? what did they do? maybe they’re sales were so bad last year that 20% is actually a lot for them.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:15:37 +0000

For Mitsubishi you would have to consider the fact that they just released the EVO X and it is still gaining converts daily, along with people buying Lancer ES’ and the GTS like mine. New Colt for Europe, too. Mitsubishi is pretty popular in the UK from what I read. They’re cruising along nicely with lots of new product to offer, including a new all-electric car called the i-MIEV, due out in Japan in 2009 and in the U.S. in 2010.

By: himi

himi — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:04:30 +0000

I know, but some automakers (Mazda and Mitsubishi) similar to Kia, sales fell only about 20%. I wanna know why do you think those brands are doing better.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:58:11 +0000

I think that the biggest problem right now is the financial crisis. A lot of people with little or no credit buy Kias because they are inexpensive, and now because of the credit crisis, people with bad credit can’t be financed.

By: Ksport(Boris)

Ksport(Boris) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:31:48 +0000

the economic crisis perhaps? lots of ppl losing jobs. liquidity probs?
how’s mitsubishi doing? they’re a really big competitor for Kia. maybe I can more can be said about Kia’s sales if we had info on mitsu sales and hyundai too.

By: himi

himi — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:16:00 +0000

Why do you think Kia is loosing so much sales right now. Last month sales fell almost 40%. I was not expectng the company to have a positive results compared to last year, but -40% is a little too much. Almost the same decrease as GM, Chrysler and Ford experienced.

We know why big three Americans’s sales are falling. They relyed on large SUVs for too long and abandoned developing small and fuel efficient cars, which are gaining on popularity. They have too many large SUVs and not enough small cars in their line-ups.

But Kia has lots of fuel efificent vehicles and only one real gasguzzler (Borrego) and it’s sales is still falling at the same rate as big three’s.
So what do you think is the reason?

By: Harry Canyon

Harry Canyon — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:21:19 +0000

Wait til the Election is over, this happens everytime theres a change, look for sales to increase around February..

By: conwelpic

conwelpic — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:11:21 +0000

not all doom and gloom in Canada, a lot of companies are setting records for October. Kia Canada is up a modest 0.2% over October 2007 with 2,925 units.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:37:36 +0000

Yeah, pretty much Colby. I know that in Northern Michigan, if you own a Kia, you have the right to act snobbish to those who don’t. Kia is a coveted nameplate, and everyone wants one. Kia is for sure the best seller in Michigan north of Grand Rapids. That is quite sad considering we are home to the big 3, but people up north feel betrayed by the big 3. ALL of our supply plants that were up north are gone, and if you own a 2006 or newer big 3 product, you are just asking for trouble. People will not like you.

By: colby

colby — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:27:14 +0000

Stores like Perioa and Central Kia are still putting out big numbers, but they have the market closed up where they are located. My region is the weakest for Kia because Honda and Toyota rule here. it seems that in most the country Kia’s nameplate has changed except for the Eastern Region.

By: colby

colby — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:25:36 +0000

I have the sales reports for the whole country store by store too…. I can tell you what any kia store sells in a month. I just have to have my Kia District rep give me the Nationwide report.

By: colby

colby — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:23:52 +0000

even bad credit is getting decent rates. the only thing that has changed are the BIG advances they used to give. If some owes thousands more on a car than its worth and they have poor credit that is what is impossible to do. We are still getting people bought that are less than a 550 fico score. Banks are just looking for cash down to put them in a better position. Right now it is about having equity upfront to protect them in the long run if they have to repo the car. They just do not want someone to owe like $30000 on a car worth $10000 in 2 years.

By: nordstein

nordstein — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:33:52 +0000

Have you any data about KIA sales in Europe?

By: Bancho

Bancho — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:21:26 +0000

Colby, the interest rates are low for people with *good* credit. These are not the people who had been driving sales for the last several years. The news has little impact on whether people with middling to bad credit can get financed for a car. The banks just got a massive wakeup call to stop their piss poor lending practices. On the other hand, if you *do* have good credit *and* are in the market for a car, there are some fantastic deals to be had. People like that, however, are certainly not the ones that drove massive vehicle sales up to this point.
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Kia can weather this though. They have a solid lineup and some great products in the pipeline. GM on the other hand has frozen R&D so you can only imagine what their pipeline looks like (here’s a hint: It looks just like what’s on their lots now except for teh Camaro which will probably rear it’s head in 2009 as a niche seller).

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:09:48 +0000

Greg, Williams Kia is really a heavy hitter, then. 250 Kia’s is a lot of Kia’s to sell in a bad month!