Frankfurt, 17 July 2018 – Kia Motors has recorded its best-ever sales in Europe for the first six months of the year, selling 264,010 units* during the period January to June 2018. This 5.1% rise outpaced the 2.8% growth in new car sales for the European market as a whole. Kia maintained its 3.0% share of the market in the first half of 2018, representing an all-time high for the Korean brand.
The company’s performance has been aided in recent months by the arrival of all-new models and advanced, electrified powertrains. In particular, sales of Kia’s advanced powertrain vehicles – comprising hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles – grew 46% year-on-year. 27,507 electrified vehicles were sold in the first six months of 2018, representing more than 10% of all Kia sales so far this year.
Kia plans to launch 16 advanced powertrain vehicles by 2025, including five new hybrids, five plug-in hybrids, five battery-electric vehicles and – in 2020 – a new fuel-cell electric vehicle. The brand recently announced the launch of a new ‘EcoDynamics+’ diesel mild-hybrid powertrain, which is introduced on the upgraded Kia Sportage this summer, with other models to follow.
Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe, commented: “This is another year in which Kia has broken its first-half sales record, selling over a quarter of a million vehicles for the second time. Next-generation powertrains are a key contributor to our sales success, as well as new models such as the Niro, Stonic and Stinger. Strong sales of other models across the Kia range mean we remain on course to achieve sales of over 500,000 units this year.”
Rising sales of electrified cars
Sales of Kia’s advanced powertrain vehicles grew from 18,803 units in the first half of 2017 to 27,507 in 2018. The Niro hybrid crossover remains Kia’s best-selling electrified vehicle, with 22,053 units sold this year (17,034 Niro Hybrids, and 5,019 examples of the newly-introduced Niro Plug-in Hybrid). The fully-electric Soul EV enjoyed its best-ever six-month sales period, with 3,218 units sold across Europe – representing year-on-year sales growth of 42%. The Soul EV now accounts more than 53% of all Soul sales in Europe. Plug-in Hybrid versions of the Optima saw a four-fold year-on-year increase in sales, to 2,236 units, following the introduction of a new Sportswagon variant.
Strong sales for new and existing model lines
Built in Europe, the Sportage remained Kia’s best-selling car this year, with 67,870 units sold. Kia recently announced a range of upgrades to the Sportage, with an updated exterior and interior design, and a range of new powertrains, including Kia’s new EcoDynamics+ diesel mild-hybrid system.
The second-generation cee’d model family (cee’d five-door hatchback, Sportswagon and three-door pro_cee’d) overtook the Picanto in its final months on sale, reprising its position as Kia’s second best-seller with 39,354 units sold across Europe. The new Kia Ceed has now entered production in Slovakia, with general sales of the Ceed five-door hatchback and Ceed Sportswagon already underway across much of Europe.
The Picanto city car saw sales increase by 6%, year-on-year, to 36,985 units. Meanwhile, the Stonic compact crossover, introduced at the start of the year, has already become Kia’s fourth best-selling vehicle across Europe, with 30,779 units sold during its first six full months on sale. Rounding out the brand’s top-five sellers, the Kia Rio hatchback accounted for 23,562 sales.
The powerful Stinger fastback sports sedan also contributed to Kia’s growth, with more than 2,000 units delivered to European customers so far this year.
