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54,834 Kia vehicles sold overseas in January
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Sales in Europe, general market, and North America post 13.8%, 4.3% and 2.2%
year-on-year growth, respectively, in January
(SEOUL) February 1, 2006 — Kia Motors Corporation announced today that its overseas retail sales of passenger cars and light trucks in January 2006 recorded 54,834 units, representing a 7.1% year-on-year increase.
By region, Europe continued its steady growth with 21,940 units sold in January for a 13.8% rise over the same period of last year. Meanwhile, sales of Kia vehicles in the general market and North America recorded 14,014 units (4.3% year-on-year increase) and 18,880 (2.2% year-on-year increase), respectively.
Popular RV models — Sportage compact SUV (8,250 units) and Sorento full-size SUV (8,196 units) — were Kia’s top selling vehicles in overseas markets in January. The A-segment Picanto — Kia’s top selling model overseas in 2005 — and the B-segment Rio were the third and fourth best-selling models in January, posting sales of 7,568 and 7,916 units, respectively.
Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Kia Motors Corporation, said, “All indications show that Kia is once again off to a fast start to begin the year.”
“And thanks to our continuing aggressive new model launch strategy, we aim to sell 1,226,900 vehicles globally in 2006, with 907,900 of this amount in overseas markets.”
New Kia models to be introduced in 2006 include the short body version of the new Carnival (Sedona) MPV, the completely redesigned new Carens compact MPV and an all-new C-segment car designed specifically for the European market that will be produced at Kia’s new factory in Slovakia. Also, the ever-popular Sorento SUV will receive a face-lift in 2006 along with the C-segment Cerato (Spectra) and Opirus (Amanti) luxury sedan.
