Kia announced its impressive April vehicle sales, reporting 277,188 units sold worldwide, a 1 percent increase year-on-year. This growth was significantly fueled by robust domestic demand, propelling Kia to surpass its affiliate, Hyundai Motor, in the Korean market for the first time since becoming part of Hyundai Motor Group.
In Korea, Kia’s domestic sales, encompassing special-purpose vehicles, saw a significant 7.9 percent year-on-year rise, reaching 55,108 units. This strong performance allowed Kia to edge past Hyundai Motor’s monthly tally, marking a historic milestone as Kia’s first time leading the Korean market since its integration into the Hyundai Motor Group in 1998.
This remarkable domestic growth was primarily driven by exceptional demand for Kia’s popular Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs). The Kia Sorento spearheaded domestic sales with an impressive 12,078 units. Recreational Vehicles (RVs) constituted the majority of these sales, totaling 35,877 units, with strong contributions from models like the versatile Carnival minivan (4,995 units), the dynamic Sportage SUV (4,972 units), and the highly anticipated EV3 electric SUV (3,898 units).
Kia’s passenger car segment also performed strongly, achieving 13,441 units in sales. The compact Ray mini car led this category with 4,877 units, followed by the stylish K5 sedan (2,366 units) and the premium K8 (1,461 units). Additionally, Kia’s commercial vehicles, including the dependable Bongo III and the innovative PV5, contributed 5,727 units to the overall domestic tally.
On a global scale, the Kia Sportage maintained its position as the brand’s bestselling model, recording 51,458 units sold. The popular Seltos followed with 28,377 units, while the Sorento, a key driver of domestic success, also performed strongly internationally with 22,843 units sold.
While overall global sales saw an uptick, Kia’s overseas sales experienced a slight 0.6 percent year-on-year dip, totaling 222,080 units. This marginal decline was primarily attributed to reduced demand in the Middle East and Africa regions, influenced by ongoing geopolitical risks. However, Kia emphasized that excluding these specific regions, sales performance remained robust across its other major international markets.
A company official reiterated that Kia’s overall positive growth in April was underpinned by its exceptional domestic market performance and consistently stable sales results in key global markets beyond the Middle East.
Looking ahead, the official stated, “Kia is committed to sustaining its strong sales momentum by prioritizing eco-friendly vehicles, including advanced electric models and efficient hybrid SUVs, to meet evolving consumer demands and contribute to a sustainable future.”
