Frankfurt, 16 October 2020 – Kia Motors has recorded its best-ever quarterly European sales during the third quarter of 2020.
According to new data released today by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA)*, Kia’s total European sales between July and September totalled 132,933 units. This is a 10.0% rise compared to Q3 2019 (120,846 units) and better than the brand’s previous best-ever sales quarter in Europe in Q1 2019, when it sold 132,174 units.
The latest sales results include Kia’s growing range of hybrid and electric vehicles, incorporating mild-hybrid (MHEV), parallel hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery electric vehicles (EV). Electrified cars have represented a major growth area for Kia during 2020, despite the wider market slowdown. Electrified powertrains now account for 28.6% of all Kia sales in Europe – more than 1 in 4 models.
Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe, comments: “After collapsing European sales in the middle of the year, we are starting to see signs of recovery in the market. Kia’s record Q3 performance is a combination of some pent-up demand and the rising popularity of our electrified vehicles. Kia’s expanding line-up of plug-in and hybrid vehicles, and our reputation for quality, design and value, means we are well-placed to meet growing levels of consumer interest in advanced powertrains.”
Kia’s sales have declined by -20.0% overall this year (to 311,325 units) due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the brand has suffered less than the wider European market, which has declined by -29.3% year-on-year. Kia’s market share has therefore grown to 3.6% so this year, up from 3.2% over the same period in 2019.
Sales bolstered by Ceed line-up, electrified powertrains, and upgraded models
The Kia Ceed family and the brand’s growing range of electrified models have all played an important role in Kia’s sales performance this year.
Total sales of electrified models (including MHEV, HEV, PHEV and EV powertrains) have grown significantly this year to 88,959 units.
Sales of the electrified Niro range in particular – comprising HEV and PHEV variants, and the fully-electric e-Niro – have grown +24.0% year-on-year, to 55,588 units. The e-Niro has accounted for 20,588 of these, with year-on-year sales growth of +156.6%. The Niro family is now Kia’s second best-selling model in Europe, overtaking the Sportage (55,525 units) for the first time.
During the same nine-month period, the fully-electric e-Soul has also seen similar sales growth (+150.6% to 6,110 units). Total PHEV sales have also grown +75.8% (to 22,913 units).
The Ceed family, comprising the Ceed, Ceed Sportswagon, ProCeed and XCeed, retained its place as Kia’s best-selling model in Europe. Year-on-year sales of Kia’s European-built C-segment range have also grown this year by +3.6%, to 83,700 units. This is thanks in part to the recent arrival of new PHEV variants of the Ceed Sportswagon and XCeed, as well as ‘EcoDynamics+’ diesel MHEV variants which launched earlier this year.
The final quarter: new Sorento, upgraded models, new powertrains
The final months of 2020 present a series of new opportunities to the brand, particularly as the European car market starts to show tentative signs of a wider recovery. Kia is in the midst of launching the fourth-generation Sorento across Europe. The brand’s flagship SUV offers hybrid power for the first time, and will also be available with a new PHEV powertrain from earlier 2021.
A range of upgrades have recently been announced for Kia’s popular compact cars, the Picanto (35,918 units YTD), Stonic (40,295 units) and Rio (24,558 units), as well as the Stinger. Upgrades include a refreshed design, new technologies and, for the Stonic and Rio, the adoption of efficient new EcoDynamics+ gasoline MHEV powertrains. The new sports-inspired Stonic GT-Line will also go on-sale across Europe in the final quarter of the year.
Kia will soon announce further details of its plans to roll-out additional MHEV and HEV powertrains and other fuel-saving technologies across portions of its line-up.
