Kia sales increases 24 percent in August 2009. Kia Forte (Cerato) leads Sportage and Rio in second and third spot.
Kia reported its global sales figures for passenger cars, recreational vehicles (RVs), and commercial vehicles for August 2009, recording a total of 139,656 units sold. This figure represents a year-on-year increase of 24.1%.
To date in 2009, Kia’s best selling model in overseas markets has been the C-segment Cerato (known as ‘Spectra’ or ‘Forte’ in some markets) with 180,184 units sold. Kia’s Sportage compact SUV and the B-segment Rio followed closely with 111,868 and 108,760 units sold, respectively. The C-segment cee’d takes fourth place with 80,705 units sold, while the Picanto completes the top five with 62,590 units sold.
By region, Kia posted year-on-year sales increases in China (21,770 units sold, a 104.9% year-on-year increase), North America (44,870 units sold, a 55.0% year-on-year increase) and Korea (25,184 units, an 8.1% year-on-year increase).
Cumulatively, through the first eight months of 2009, Kia’s global sales increased by 8.5% year-on-year and reached 1,032,572 units. The Chinese market experienced the highest gain with 141,513 units sold to date, representing a 39.4% increase. Korea, general markets, and North America showed cumulative year-on-year sales increases of 23.3% (252,519 units sold), 10.3% (185,223 units sold) and 4.9% (248,838 units sold), respectively.
In terms of vehicle category sold overseas, Kia’s recreational and passenger vehicles achieved year-on-year increases in August of 31.1% (39,183 units) and 30.2% (72,549 units), respectively.
Hyoung-Keun Lee, President of Kia Motors Corporation, said “We are very encouraged that in August we have already surpassed the million unit global sales mark, despite the various and difficult challenges facing the automotive industry. These results are promising and we look forward to carrying this momentum through to the final quarter of 2009.”
September 11th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Fantastic sales news! I have experienced firsthand the greatness of Kia motorcars and that was long ago. It’s just good to see the rest of the world waking up to this information. Kia kudos!
September 11th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Look at a 1995 Sephia, and then look at any MY2010 Kia vehicle, and you will not believe that the vehicle is from the same company, after only 15 years. Kia is doing excellent! To keep up with demand, they are most likely going to have to build another factory pretty soon (maybe in the USA?). If they manufactured every vehicle in the line up at a North American facility, Kia could probably snag quite a few more sales. A lot of people in the United States are stupid, and will buy anything that says “Made in USA” on it. Hmm, although those idiot freaks that buy the ford fusion say that it is such an American car, yet they didn’t look at the parts origin or final assembly point for the vehicle. Anyway, congrats to Kia, and good luck at making 3rd largest. Kia is proof that you can sell 1 million+ units, and they don’t have to be dull.
September 12th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
The sephia started all this. Without no Sephia
there would be no Forte Koup or Borrego.
September 13th, 2009 at 12:41 am
Hey all of y’all, I loved my 1999 Kia Sephia. Especially after getting some 70,000 mile Yokohama radials and some Konig Diva wheels slapped on the thing I loved it all the more so. Incredible how much more fun the rig was to drive after that and it handled quite nicely. Loved it-wanted a 2002 Kia Spectra right after 9/11, I loved the Sephia so much. I wanted to experience the joy of owning and driving another Kia so much was the only reason to trade the Sephia in, not really a smart financial reason to trade it in, true. Got to our Kia dealer and turns out my wife had the hots for a 2001 Kia Sportage in 5-speeds and Pepper Red. We both loved it and traded for it in Sept. of 2001. Almost made it 6 years in that Sportage 4X4, traded it in on March 21, 2007, for our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS. Yep, the Kia Sephia is one important automobile in Kia history. A great started sedan for them to cut their teeth on.
September 13th, 2009 at 12:42 am
Hey all of y’all, I loved my 1999 Kia Sephia. Especially after getting some 70,000 mile Yokohama radials and some Konig Diva wheels slapped on the thing I loved it all the more so. Incredible how much more fun the rig was to drive after that and it handled quite nicely. Loved it-wanted a 2002 Kia Spectra right after 9/11, I loved the Sephia so much. I wanted to experience the joy of owning and driving another Kia so much was the only reason to trade the Sephia in, not really a smart financial reason to trade it in, true. Got to our Kia dealer and turns out my wife had the hots for a 2001 Kia Sportage in 5-speeds and Pepper Red. We both loved it and traded for it in Sept. of 2001. Almost made it 6 years in that Sportage 4X4, traded it in on March 21, 2007, for our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS. Yep, the Kia Sephia is one important automobile in Kia history. A great starter sedan for them to cut their teeth on.
September 13th, 2009 at 12:42 am
Excuse the double post-this website is spazzing out on me.
September 13th, 2009 at 6:49 am
And the best part about it, Kia Sephias are still on US roads today.
September 13th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Yep, and I still apprecaite their European-inspired rear end and their Civic-fighting front end. Love the car even now. Sometimes I get a wild hair feeling of wanting one of those older Sephia’s again, that’s how much I think of them!