Kia Motors posts 18.2% increase in December overseas sales
(SEOUL) January 3, 2007 -- Kia Motors Corporation announced today that its overseas retail sales of passenger cars and light trucks in December 2006 recorded 73,714 units, representing a 18.2% year-on-year increase.
By region, the North America posted a year-on-year sales rise of 57.5% in December with 32,380 units sold. Meanwhile, sales of Kia vehicles in Europe and the general market recorded 25,630 units (6.4% year-on-year decrease) and 15,704 units (8.7% year-on-year increase), respectively.
Cumulatively through the twelve months of 2006, Kia's overseas sales have risen by 3.8% year-on-year to reach 842,526 units, with North America showing the largest gain at 6.8%. European sales have increased by 3.4% while general market sales have decreased by 0.4% for the year 2006.
Kia's best selling model in export markets in 2006 was the C-segment Cerato (known as ¡®Spectra¡¯ in some markets) with 132,392 units sold, closely followed by the A-segment Picanto with 130,169 units sold. Meanwhile, Kia¡¯s popular SUVs have performed well, with overseas sales of the Sorento mid-size SUV and Sportage compact SUV reaching 124,809 and 107,107 units sold, respectively. The all-new B-segment Rio has also been a steady seller with 103,360 units delivered through the end of 2006.
In addition to expanding sales worldwide, Kia Motors enjoyed a growing number of industry accolades and distinctions in 2006, including five-star safety ratings in the US for its Carnival MPV (known as ¡®Sedona¡¯ in some markets), Sorento mid-size SUV, Sportage compact SUV and Magentis D-segment sedan (known as ¡®Optima¡¯ in some markets). Kia vehicles also received high scores in various quality and customer satisfaction surveys (see attachment for list of accolades and distinctions in 2006).
Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Kia Motors Corporation, said, ¡°Despite a prolonged downturn of the global automotive industry, Kia Motors continued to post steady growth in our major export markets in 2006, while our brand stature has also made considerable strides all over the world.¡±
"With full-fledged sales of the European cee'd family hatchback slated to get underway in the first quarter of 2007, we fully expect that Kia will resume its dramatic growth in this region. Meanwhile, we anticipate a healthy return on our recent aggressive marketing activities in North America and other regions of the world in the form of stepped up demand for our vastly improved line-up of vehicles,¡± he added.
Editor¡¯s notes:
1) Figures do not include domestic sales and KD (knock down) exports assembled at overseas plants including China.
2) ¡°General market¡± includes the regions of Central & South America, Asia & Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.
Kia Motors Corporation -- one of the fastest growing automakers in the world -- was founded in 1944 and is Korea¡¯s oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to become one of the world¡¯s premier automotive brands. Kia¡¯s 14 manufacturing and assembly operations in 9 countries produce more than 1.3 million vehicles a year that are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 160 countries. Kia today has over 32,500 employees and annual revenues of almost $16 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Tennis Open and an official worldwide sponsor of the Davis Cup. From 2007 to 2014, Kia will be an official automotive partner of FIFA -- the governing body of the FIFA World Cup. Kia Motors Corporation¡¯s brand slogan -- ¡°The Power to Surprise¡± -- represents the company¡¯s global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.
