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Kia announces impressive November 2009 global sales numbers
Global Kia sales in November increase 52 percent. China and European Kia sales up 190 and 43 percent, respectively!
November has proven to be a very successful month for the Korean second-largest carmaker with overall global sales coming in at 152.826 units, a year-on-year increase of 52 percent!
By region, Kia achieved the largest year-on-year sales increases in China, the world’s largest car market, where it has sold 29.957 new vehicles. Compared to the same month a year ago, Kia’s sales in China soared 190 percent!
November sales figures also reveal, that Kia cars have been in high demand in Korea, as well as in Europe, where the automaker sold 38.687 and 31.188 new vehicles, respectively. Kia sales have also grown 19 percent (21.419 units) in North America and 34 percent in general markets.
Global Kia sales to date increased 17 percent to 1.489.204 units when compared to last year’s figures.
The Chinese market experienced the highest sales increase with 221.722 units sold to date, while Korea and North America also showed cumulative year-on-year sales increases of 27 percent (366.229 units) and 9.5 percent (322.488 units sold), respectively.
With 269.864 units sold to date, the Forte compact car (known also as Cerato at some International markets) has been the best selling Kia vehicle this year. Kia’s B-segment Rio and Sportage SUV are in the fierce battle to take the second spot with 159.385 and 157.312 units sold, respectively.
Taking fourth place, with 114.498 units sold, is a cee’d hatchback, which leads the Picanto mini-car, which concludes the top five best selling car list with 93.826 units sold so far this year.
“This month we saw growth across all markets and we will seek to continue to satisfy customers with our ongoing rollout of new, stylish and fuel efficient products, including the recently launched Cadenza luxury sedan.” said Hyoung-Keun Lee, President of Kia Motors Corp. [Source: Kia]
i love Kia company.
I want work for Kia.
I also like their car.
hey, is it hard be a employee of kia?
You obviously don’t like their car, as you have shown an the CH post.
FOR SALE ONLY IN AUSTRALIA,I HAVE A FRONT SET OF MUDFLAPS FOR THE KIA SOUL,I GOT THEM FROM THE USA,AS YOU CAN NOT GET THEM HERE,ASKING $40 AUSSIE DOLLARS,YOU CAN GET ME ON
wingy@spiderweb.com.au
Not totally on the subject, but someone was saying on a “Consumer Reports” forum today that they’d seen several posts at other forums saying the Rondo was being dropped after ’10 due to slumping sales. Anyone have any info on that?
I think a Forte Wagon/Hatch with the 2.4 would be a good candidate to replace Rondo.
Why not, you can get more fuel economy and still have great power? The Forte shoppers would love the utility of a Matrix like hatch, and I bet many Rondo owners, or those who would be in that Rondo market would get one.
We can also try to get some of those Pontiac Vibe lovers on board too, with a Hot Variant.
The 2011 Sorento is replacing the Rondo. After all, the Sorento sits on the Santa Fe platform, which was modeled after the Rondo platform, and all three vehicles have the exact wheelbase. I posted a thread on our very own forum comparing the Rondo and new Sorento. The 2011 Sorento kills two old birds with one shiny stone.
“Sorento Owner Says:
December 11th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
hey, is it hard be a employee of kia?”
YES
Sorento can replace rondo. the sorento has more space, some amount of off-road capabilities, More hp and more mpg than rondo, panoramic sunroof and handles like a car (monocoque).
Rondo isn’t an SUV – Sorento is. Rondo is a Small/Mid-sized MPV….
If Kia doesn’t replace the Rondo they will have a gap in their range. Flexible mid-sized MPVs like the Vauxhall Zafira, Citroen C4 Picasso and Ford S-Max are very popular in the UK. I am sure Kia will replace the Rondo (known as the Carens in Europe) as it sells way more than the Magentis/Optima. What Kia has announced they will be discontinuing is the terribly outdated Sedona – take a look at the Ford Galaxy and compare the flexibility of the seats and all that and you will see my point.
Jonathan – The Sorento is a mid-size CUV, and it measures, on average, 1.8 inches different than the Rondo. The exterior length, height, and width are all VERY close to the same. The wheelbase is EXACTLY the same. Interior dimensions are also VERY close. Go ahead and follow the link (click my name) to see the comparison.
Greg, Sorrento is too big to replace a Rondo. The Rondo is kind of small, it looks like a C-Segment hatch to me. Even though its not, it looks like a Spectra Plus.
I’m often searching for brandnew posts in the world wide web about this subject. Thx!
Excuse me?? The Sorento is four inches longer, the Sorento is actually not as high as the Rondo, and the interior dimensions are the same. The Santa Fe is built off of a Rondo platform. That is why Hyundai never had a version of the Rondo, because it sit on the modified Rondo platform. The Sorento is built off of the Santa Fe platform, so ultimately, it is built as a Rondo. Just like the 2011 Borrego will be the final replacement for the Sedona, since 2010 is the last year. Kia doesn’t need a line up with a Sportage, Sorento and Rondo, because then their cars are competing against each other. Like I said, click my name and look at the comparison.
“and sorento. The 2011 Sorento is replacing the Rondo”
Greg, you are silly.
Sorento is COMPLETELY different from Rondo. The sorento owners never, ever crossshoping with rondo. and same platform does not mean it is a same car.
Sorento is a SUV/CUV
Rondo is a MPV (multi-purpose vehicle)
“Kia doesn’t need a line up with a Sportage, Sorento and Rondo, because then their cars are competing against each other. ”
>> Again, ‘share platform’ does not mean they are same car.
According your logic, Why GM need Chevy, Buick, Opel, Saab, Suzuki brands?
So, according to your logic, they are same car, and compete each other Because they share same epsilon2 platform.
Honda have only 2 plaforms, and all of its lineups are essentially variants. Accoding to your logic, Honda must dropped its all lineup, and keep only 2 cars?
“Kia doesn’t need a line up with a Sportage, Sorento and Rondo, because then their cars are competing against each other.”
This dubest comment i ever seen in this forum.
Seriously, Are you graduate proper school?
I want delete my above comments, above comment is little bit personal attack.
The Rondo is the next dog in the lineup, the first dog is the borrego. Dog as in seller. Why have something in a segment that doesn’t sell here. The rondo was doomed because of its naming and marketing.
Rondos did prove popular in the Lower Midwest and Upper South i.e. Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee. Thats Why I advocate for a Forte Hatch. The Time is right, the Matrix gets recalls everyday. 2006 models and possibly (Pending Investigation) up to 2009 models of Matrix and Vibe, have engines that will stall.
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The Forte in a landslide is picked over the Corolla by auto Journalists. Why not a Forte Hatch over Matrix? Anyway, Greg you say so about that size difference, but the Rondo just doesnt seem that big to me. If it doesnt seem that big to me, I think customers will see it the same way.
The Lexus IS and ES sit on modified Camry Platforms now, should they get rid of the Camry now?
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By the way, speaking about mulitple use Platforms. Edmunds spied the Next gen Elantra. They say it has the most interior room out of any C segment car that will be out in 2011, including Buick Astra.
If KIA made all of their commercials like the Cadenza Commercial, and for the US Market they would triple sales.
Although personally I prefer the Forte sedan type better than a proposed Forte hatch, that is indeed an idea to consder with much enthusiasm. Mitsubishi saw need to make a Lancer hatch and from certain angles I can TRY to like it as much as my Lancer GTS. It just falls somewhat short every time. But that’s just me perhaps. Some may prefer a Forte hatch for storage capabilities, e?
To clarify, I meant Rondo only. I’m quite sure the Carens will be replaced. But to me the Rondo is seen by many intenders as an anti-SUV judging by many of the comments I’ve seen them make. I don’t think very many of them would consider a Sorento or Sportage. Still, sales have been slow of late I know. Though if it got a new platform and restyled and maybe the GDI 2.4 I do think that if gas prices head skyward again that sales would be picking up again. Not saying it would be a huge seller but saying since the Carens is undoubtedly staying around it would be worth the small additional effort for a new Rondo.
Guys, numbers don’t lie. Look at the comparison I have put together. Just click on my name. The Forte hatch will be approximately the size of a Spectra5. The Rondo was more or less an “Optima5”.
The Sorento has less legroom and headroom than the Rondo.
The only reason Kia had the Rondo was because it was a unibody CUV. The only reason that the Sorento looks bigger is because of the height of the front end. If you nay-sayers looked at the comparison, you would see what I am talking about. The base price of the 2010 Rondo will be 19, 375 before destination. The base price of the new Sorento will be 20,370. The Rondo is taller than the Sorento, but the Sorento has more ground clearance. The Sorento may have almost 1L bigger of a V6 engine, and 81 more HP, but still gets 2 MPG better. A new Rondo would be entirely too close in size to a new Sorento, that Kia isn’t going to bother with a new Rondo. You can have a new Sportage or new Sorento, but not a Rondo. Kia needs to thin out their line-up anyway.
Production of the Rondo will stop in April, and its line will be converted to build the 2011 Borrego. Kia has limited manufacturing room at their Hwasung facility, because they currently produce the XM(Sorento), VG(Cadenza), MG(Magentis), TD(Forte/Koup), and HM(Borrego). Sohari produces JB(Rio) and VQ(Sedona/Carnival). Kia will soon begin production of the CH, but they have only five assembly lines at Hwasung. Gwangju produces the KM(Sportage), UN(Rondo), and AM(Soul), along with their trucks and buses. Moving the HM line onto where the UN line was will free up the HM line for the CH at Hwasung. Not to mention, Gwangju is more fit to build the rugged vehicles. Kia plans to close their Sohari plant. It has been around since the 70s, and it needs updating pretty bad. Right now only the Rio and the Sedona are the only cars built there. (It seems kind of weird that the largest majority of consumer complaints are on the Rio and Sedona) 2010 is the last year for Sedona, as the 2011 Borrego will take its spot in the market. The next Rio will be built alongside the Accent at Hyundai’s plant. The Borrego is on hiatus for 2010 and when it comes back in 2011 it will be more competitive with the GM Lambda platform vehicles (Traverse, Outlook, Acadia, Enclave). The Borrego will take the place of the Sedona, and will sit on a newly developed body-on-frame/unibody hybrid platform. The new Borrego will have much more generous cabin room, set to overtake that of the GM Lambdas. Eight passenger seating, still primarily RWD, and much improved fuel economy, along with an LX 3.5L engine, EX with an Optional 3.8L engine, and an SX with an optional 4.6L V8 engine, all having extreme improvement in fuel economy. With an eight passenger CUV with a base price of around 23,000, there is just no need for a vehicle in a dying market. Plus, that gets rid of the need for the VQ line at Sohari.
Wait, why do we need a Sportage, Forte hatch, Sorento, AND new Rondo?
Becuase younger people want more ultility, Greg. Especially in the small cars. They are getting tired of these Shrunken down clown Car sedans. Younger Americans are moving towards the Euro Hatch Niche.
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Plus KIA=young peoples brand with future tech, etc… Like the Cadenza is a perfect Archetype for a younger persons large Luxury car, SOUL is a Perfect Archetype for a young peoples MPV.
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I personally think with SOUL around and a Forte Hatch coming the Carens brought over here named something else is pointless.
Make big gas sipping sedans with nice power, and small cars that perform and act like small cars look like Shrunken Down SUVs is the recipe for the US market. Rio hatch should look like a baby Soul and Baby Sportage, Accent Hatch Should look a like a cross between Veloster and Shrunken down Tuscon.
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Voluminize our C Segments like the Next Gen Elantra to give them an appearence that they are Midsized cars as opposed to Compact cars. Voluminize our D-segments like the New Sonata to look a larger as an E segment car, but weigh less than their last gen variants. Go over the top with our big boy sedans: Cadenza/Azera, K8/Genesis, K9/Equus.
The K8 is the 2011 Borrego, BTW. Having a new Carens is pointless, because the Sorento is actually more of a Rondo replacement than a Sorento replacement. The Rondo and new Sorento are both midsize CUVs, while the old Sorento was a compact SUV.
Greg, th SUVs havent gotten Alpha numeric designations, yet they still havent decided on how to name that way. K8=KIA Genesis, K9=KIA Equus.
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Greg, dont you see? Hyundai drew customers into the dealers with a “Halo” car=Genesis at a time when the eocnomy was shitty. People said”well if they can make a Genesis then I can trust that Accent, Elantra, Sonata, etc…” Remember, there were some some people stil calling Hyundais throwawy cars, based on some bad experience they have with a Hyundai 10-15 years ago.
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Then with the people drawn to the delaers, they piled on a boatload of incentives, and people piled on to the Cars.
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Dont you see, they are going to do that strategy to KIA next. The Soul was KIAs Current Gen Sonata= a car to get people interested in the company. They now need a Halo Car on top to draw people to the dealers. KIA Marketshare can grow, and surpass Hyundai Easily in the US Market. With KIAs prices you guys should be selling twice as many cars as Hyundai does, but you dont. The intention of the Company is for KIA to be the big volume brand surpassing Hyundai over time.
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So, in order to boost sales to your real potential you need some halo products to draw people to the dealers to Buy Fortes, etc….
The goal is for Hyundai to sell 500,000 units, and KIA to sell 1-1.5 million units in the US yearly. By providing KIA with some halo cars, some more spot on dead on products like the Forte, a value pricing strategy the cars will fly out of the dealers.
Kia still needs a truck in the USA. I hear that every day. And diesel engines.
I could agree with you about diesel engines, but not about the trucks. Those are past and Kia should rather concentrate its development towards hybrid cars and compact cars.
Himi I’m just stating what I hear all the time. I work in the Parts Department and hear that, and the people in the Service Department and Sales Departments all say they hear the same- people want a Kia truck. There is a Chevrolet dealer on the same lot as us, and people will walk over to their side and buy a Chevrolet over getting an SUV. Many people that want a truck want a truck. They don’t say, “I need a truck for _____ purpose, but I’ll take an SUV/CUV/MPV that can’t fulfill that need.” Kia should continue developing hybrids, fuel cells and compacts, but also revive the truck they had in development many years ago. They have the Body on Frame chassis of the Borrego; they have flat nosed trucks in other countries. People will buy the truck when they bring it to the USA. Until then, Kia will continue to lose potential sales to domestic (Ford/ Chrysler/ GM) and foreign companies (Nissan/ Toyota/ Honda).
Truck would not generate enough sales, Ford has that market cornered. I just Kia doesn’t price themselves out of the market.
Oops I just hope Kia doesn’t price themselves out of the market. At one Toyota was worth spending a few dollars more to purchase but with their quality issues Kia is a safer and much better value.
Like what you did. Here’s wishing you a very happy and prosperous new year !