Kia Motors America Announces November 2003 Sales

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 2, 2003 -- Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced monthly sales of 16,173 units for November 2003, up 6.5 percent from October 2003. Year-to-date sales for KMA totaled 218,896 units.

"We are still rebuilding our inventory as a result of production lost during the recent labor negotiations in Korea," said Peter M. Butterfield, Kia Motors America's president and chief executive officer. "With our supply now being replenished with fresh, new 04 products, including the arrival of our all-new 2004 Amanti large premium sedan, we anticipate a very brisk sales pace in December to provide a strong sales close for 2003."

Several Kia models have continued to produce healthy year-to-date sales increases. The Optima midsize sedan is up 17 percent and the popular Sedona minivan is up 20 percent versus last year. Amantis are being shipped to Kia retailers around the country to meet the demand from early buyers, with a major television advertising campaign slated for December 26. As part of the company's launch strategy, a limited allocation of Amantis were sold to selected daily rental companies to introduce the company's first large sedan to business travelers and other professionals that fall within the company's demographic target for the it's newest product. The first print ads for Amanti are now appearing on newsstands in January issues of monthly publications, with national "preview" television advertising scheduled to start December 15.

Kia Motors America is the U.S. sales, marketing and service arm of Kia Motors Corp. in Seoul, South Korea.

                         MONTH OF NOVEMBER           YEAR-TO-DATE
  Model                  2003         2002        2003          2002

  Optima                2,990        1,483       30,486        25,209
  Rio                   4,201        3,868       38,771        48,693
  Sedona                2,982        2,949       46,318        36,903
  Spectra               2,481        4,527       60,296        68,648
  Sportage                 23        2,584        5,588        37,532
  Sorento               2,927        3,330       36,868         5,735
  Amanti                  569          N/A          569           N/A

  Total                16,173       18,741      218,896       222,720