Kia’s world-wide August sales rises 9.2%

Although August is traditionally a slower month for sales, Kia continued to experience strong worldwide sales growth, especially in China and general markets. Despite the challenges facing the industry, this month’s results are very encouraging.

Global sales of passenger cars, recreation vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles in August 2008 recorded 112,564, representing a 9.2% year-on-year increase.

By region, Kia posted year-on-year sales increases in general markets (25,520 units sold, a 50.9% year-on-year increase), China (10,627 units, a 34.7% year-on-year increase), and Korea (23,305 units sold, a 1.3% year-on-year increase). Meanwhile, in Europe and North America, 24,172 (1.9% year-on-year decrease) and 28,940 (5.6% year-on-year decrease) Kia vehicles were sold in August, respectively.

So far in 2008, Kia’s best selling model in overseas markets has been the C-segment Cerato (known as ‘Spectra’ in some markets) with 140,836 units sold. It is followed by a close group of three vehicles: the B-segment Rio at 108,414 units, the C-segment cee’d at 103,350 units and Kia’s Sportage compact SUV at 99,608 units. Meanwhile the A-segment Picanto continues to perform well with 68,014 units sold.

Cumulatively, through the first eight months of 2008, Kia’s global sales increased by 16.0% year-on-year and reached 951,948 units. China (101,490 units sold) and general markets (167,922 units sold) have experienced the largest gains of 41.8%, and 35.7%, respectively. Cumulative year-on-year sales increases have also been experienced in all other sales regions: Korea (16.0% gain from 204,849 units sold); Europe (10.8% gain from 240,504 units sold); and North America (2.3% gain from 237,183 units sold).

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