KIA MOTORS’ RECORD DECEMBER SALES INCREASE BY 42.5 PERCENT;
FAST-GROWING KIA ACHIEVES ALL-TIME BEST FULL-YEAR SALES AND MARKET SHARE IN 2011
Kia Surpassed 485,000 Annual Sales for the First Time and Gained U.S. Market Share for the 17th Consecutive Year; Soul Tops 100,000 Units for the First Time
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IRVINE, Calif., January 4, 2012 – After surpassing its all-time best annual sales total in the first nine months of 2011, Kia Motors America (KMA) today reported record December sales of 43,390 units, a 42.5-percent increase over the same period in 2010, which contributed to the brand’s best-ever full-year sales of 485,492 vehicles. Kia, one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S.1, has achieved 16 straight monthly sales records, and 2011’s 36.3-percent sales increase over 2010 far outpaced the industry. KMA’s unprecedented gains follow an aggressive three-year sequence of new vehicle introductions that began with the Soul in 2009. In 2011, the popular urban passenger vehicle became KMA’s second vehicle to exceed sales of 100,000 units. Kia’s U.S.-built* products Optima and Sorento continued to be the brand’s best performers for the third consecutive month, with Optima topping the sales chart for the first time since its introduction in late 2010. Kia’s U.S. market share has risen for 17 straight years, including a 78-percent increase since 2008 to today’s 3.8-percent2.
“Kia is a much different company than just three years ago, and with one of the youngest and most acclaimed vehicle lineups in the industry, Kia’s customer loyalty rate has dramatically improved and at the same time, more new car shoppers are looking at Kia than ever before as evidenced by our substantial sales and market share gains in 2011,” said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and KMMG. “The Kia brand is built on a commitment to offering our customers high-quality, stylish, fun-to-drive and fuel efficient vehicles that are packed with the latest technologies, amenities and safety features, and we will continue to deliver on that promise in 2012 and into the future with the introduction of more new models.”
Kia’s Unprecedented Growth
Kia Motors is the one of the world’s fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America’s full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality3 and the industry’s highest brand loyalty ranking4. Kia’s U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia KMMG is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds the company’s two best-selling vehicles in the U.S. the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan5. Kia’s value and technology-laden 2012 model year lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, all-new Rio and Rio5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.
About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 755 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the “Official Automotive Partner of the NBA.” In 2011, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and became one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.
Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.
* Assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts. Optima Hybrid will not be built in the USA.
1 Based on comparison of 12-month retail sales from September 2007 to September 2011 of all U.S. automotive brands and 5-year average sales growth.
2 Through Nov. 2011.
3 Source: Automotive Lease Guide Spring 2011 Perceived Quality Study
4 Source: Experian Automotive Q2 2011 market analysis
5 Optima Hybrid is not built at KMMG
MONTH OF DECEMBER
YEAR-TO-DATE
Model
2011
2010
2011
2010
Rio
2,155
944
20,111
24,619
Spectra
–
1
–
272
Forte
4,730
5,694
76,295
68,500
Optima
10,704
3,106
84,590
27,382
Amanti
3
1
8
281
Sportage
3,617
2,560
47,463
23,873
Sorento
10,663
9,803
130,235
108,985
Sedona
1,865
1,672
24,047
21,823
Rondo
2
64
47
3,588
Borrego
27
232
429
9,835
Soul
9,624
6,367
102,267
67,110
Total
43,390
30,444
485,492
356,268