Kia UK has drawn a confident line under another record-breaking year while setting its sights firmly on what comes next, unveiling its new 2026 business strategy, Shaping our Future, at the annual Kia National Dealer Conference in Liverpool. With more than 1,000 dealer partners and employees in attendance, the event served as both a celebration of exceptional performance across the network and a statement of intent for the year ahead.
At the heart of the conference was Kia’s annual Dealer Excellence Awards, recognising the standout dealerships that have driven the brand’s continued success over the past 12 months. As Kia continues to rank among the most highly regarded franchises in the UK automotive industry, the awards underscored the strength of a dealer network that has become one of the brand’s greatest competitive advantages.
The evening’s highest honour, the 2025 Dealer of the Year award, was claimed by EMG Kia Cambridge. Having placed second in 2024, the dealership completed a remarkable rise to the top, also securing the EV Excellence Award and earning Highly Commended recognition across Sales, After Sales and Customer Experience categories. The result reflected a year of consistency, operational excellence and leadership in Kia’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle portfolio.
Joint second place for Dealer of the Year was awarded to Mantles Kia Royston and EMG Kia Ely, two retailers that demonstrated outstanding business performance throughout 2025. EMG Kia Ely further strengthened its credentials by taking home the After Sales Excellence Award, highlighting the dealership’s commitment to customer care beyond the point of sale. Mantles Kia Royston, meanwhile, continued a run of strong performances following its outright Dealer of the Year win in 2024.
Sales Excellence honours went to Shelly Motors Kia Epsom, building on its Highly Commended status from last year and reflecting a sustained ability to translate Kia’s product momentum into showroom success. In the Customer Experience category, Gravells Kia Hereford and Ken Jervis Kia of Stoke-on-Trent shared top honours, reinforcing their reputations for consistently delivering standout customer journeys. For Ken Jervis Kia in particular, the award added to an already impressive history of repeat wins spanning more than a decade.
Speaking at the conference, Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK, paid tribute to the dealer network’s role in another landmark year for the brand. He emphasised that Kia’s record 2025 performance would not have been possible without the continued commitment, investment and partnership of its retailers, describing them as central to Kia’s ongoing growth story in the UK.
Philpott also highlighted the importance of the newly announced Shaping our Future strategy, positioning it as a framework designed to help Kia navigate both opportunity and challenge in a rapidly evolving market. With an expanding model range, increasing electrification and a strong focus on execution, the strategy is intended to ensure Kia remains competitive, relevant and resilient as it moves deeper into the decade.
That confidence is underpinned by strong numbers. Kia closed 2025 as the UK’s fourth most popular car brand, achieving a 5.6 percent market share and registering 113,436 vehicles. The year was marked by a steady stream of product updates and launches, from refreshed versions of the Sportage and Stonic to high-performance and next-generation electric models such as the EV6 GT, EV4, EV5 and EV9 GT. The brand’s momentum was further reinforced by major industry accolades, including World Car of the Year and UK Car of the Year honours for the EV3, alongside International Van of the Year recognition for Kia’s first dedicated electric commercial vehicle, the PV5.
Looking ahead, Kia has already begun to shape 2026 with the unveiling of the EV2 at the Belgian Motor Show, followed by the planned UK introduction of the Seltos and further derivatives of the PV5. Supported by a broad and increasingly electrified line-up, these additions are expected to play a key role in Kia’s ambition to deliver yet another record year.
As the Liverpool conference made clear, Kia’s future ambitions are closely tied to the strength of its dealer partnerships. With award-winning retailers, a clear strategic direction and a product portfolio aligned to market demand, Kia UK enters 2026 with momentum, confidence and a shared determination to reach even greater milestones together.
