Kia posts record quarterly sales in Europe as hybrid and EV sales rise

• Kia’s European first-quarter sales rise 5.2% to best-ever 131,434 units
  
• Kia growth outpaces European market, which expands 0.6% in Q1
  
• March represents Kia’s best-ever one-month sales in Europe
  
• Hybrids and EVs now account for 10% of all Kia sales in Europe
  
• New Stonic and Picanto push Kia volumes higher
  
  

Frankfurt, 18 April 2018 – Kia Motors Europe has recorded its best-ever quarterly sales, according to new data released today by ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association).

Kia’s European registrations rose 5.2% during the first three months of the year, from 124,987 to 131,434 units* – marking the Korean brand’s highest ever quarterly sales results. March 2018 also represented Kia’s best-ever sales month in Europe, with registrations of 57,492 units, up 4.5% year-on-year from 55,007 in March 2017. Kia’s European market share was 3.1% in the first quarter of the year, up from 2.9% during the same period in 2017. The brand’s sales performance outpaced that of the wider European Union and European Free Trade Area, which grew 0.6% over the same period.

Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe, commented: “Kia Motors is targeting European sales this year of more than 500,000. A record start to the year puts us in a strong position to achieve this aim, while the launch of new models later in the year – such as the new Ceed – will add significant momentum to our organic sales growth.”

Kia’s best-selling car in Europe during the first quarter of 2018 was the Sportage crossover, with 34,644 units sold. In its final year of production, the current-generation Kia cee’d model family also saw sales rise slightly, to 18,625 units (+0.8% year-on-year). Sales of the new Ceed and Ceed Sportswagon commence later in 2018.

Two new models launched in 2017 further supported Kia’s sales growth. Sales of the Picanto, Kia’s A-segment city car, rose 12.4% year-on-year, to 18,573 units, making it the brand’s third best-selling model so far this year. The Kia Stonic, the all-new B-segment compact crossover, went on sale late in 2017 and recorded 15,170 sales in the first three months of the year.

Kia’s range of advanced powertrain vehicles also added momentum to the brand’s sales growth, as registrations of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles rose 36.2% to 13,070 units. In the first quarter of 2018, 10% of all Kia cars sold in Europe were powered by an electrified powertrain, compared to 7.7% over the same period in 2017. The Niro hybrid crossover saw a 26.6% jump in sales to 10,399 units, aided by the addition of a new Plug-in Hybrid variant in mid-2017 which accounted for 24% of all Niro sales. The Soul EV enjoyed its best-ever quarter, with 1,717 units sold – 53.2% more than in Q1 2017. Finally, sales of the Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid rose from 260 to 954 units following the introduction of a new Sportswagon Plug-in Hybrid.

Kia recently announced plans to introduce 16 new advanced powertrain vehicles by 2025 – the first of these new alternatively-fuelled vehicles will be unveiled later in 2018, reinforcing the company’s position as a leader in hybrid and electric car technology in Europe