Kia Motors posts 12.3% global sales growth in June

Kia Motors Corporation announced today its global sales figures export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants for passenger cars, recreational vehicles RVs and commercial vehicles for June 2012, recording a total of 242,790 units sold. This figure represents a year-on-year increase of 12.3%.

In June, Kia posted strong year-on-year sales increases of 24.4% in Europe 55,248 units sold; 13.9% in China (38,448 units sold); 13.4% in North America 59,108 units sold; and 9.8% in general markets 47,875 units sold. Meanwhile, June sales in Kia’s home market of Korea decreased by 0.2% 42,111 units sold year-on-year.

Cumulatively through the first six months of 2012, Kia’s global sales have increased by 12.0% year-on-year to reach 1,348,831 units. Europe, North America and China have experienced the highest cumulative gains to date in 2012 of 25.5% 286,294 units sold, 17.9% 328,005 units sold, and 16.2% 236,439 units sold, respectively.

Kia’s best selling model in overseas markets for the month of June was the B-segment Rio known as ‘K2’ in China with 43,016 units sold. The Sportage compact CUV was the second best seller with 31,497 units delivered, while the C-segment Cerato known as Forte in some markets, D-segment Optima sedan and Sorento mid-size CUV followed with 30,789, 22,546, and 19,527 units sold, respectively.

Tae-Hyun Thomas Oh, Executive Vice President & COO of Kia Motors Corporation, said, “We are pleased to have posted strong double-digit cumulative growth in the world’s major auto markets of North America, Europe and China during the first half of 2012. Given that our new product launch schedule for overseas markets is very much weighted toward the second half of the year – including our new flagship sedan and refreshed Sorento CUV we look forward to the challenge of maintaining our global sales growth momentum throughout the remainder of 2012.”