Kia Motors America, January 2008 sales numbers

Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced January sales of 21,355 units. Leading the way for the brand were Rio, Optima, Spectra and Rondo, which all saw increases over the same period last year.

“It is a tough economic climate but fuel efficient vehicles like Rio and Spectra continue to sell well even as gas prices remain high,” said Len Hunt, president and CEO of KMA. “We saw a good start in what is typically a slow month and in what is predicted to be a tough year in the auto industry.”

Rio and Optima sold 2,709 units and 3,986 units respectively, both increase over the same period last year. Spectra sold 4,858 units while Rondo, beginning its second full year on the market, sold 3,226 units, both increases over the same period last year.

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2007, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of record U.S. sales.

Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and fun-to-drive vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline “The Power to Surprise.”

                    MONTH OF JANUARY           YEAR-TO-DATE
  Model            2008         2007         2008        2007

  Rio             2,709        1,624        2,709       1,624
  Spectra         4,858        4,273        4,858       4,273
  Optima          3,986        2,201        3,986       2,201
  Amanti            199          567          199         567
  Sportage        3,064        3,474        3,064       3,474
  Sorento         1,213        2,960        1,213       2,960
  Sedona          2,100        6,947        2,100       6,947
  Rondo           3,226          478        3,226         478

  Total          21,355       22,524       21,355      22,524