Kia Motors posts 39.5% increase in February global sales

• 143,267 Kia vehicles sold globally in February
• February sales in China, general markets, Europe, Korea and North America, post year-on-year sales growth of 128.6%, 52.7%, 34.4%, 21.6% and 11.4%, respectively
• Sorento CUV is fourth best selling overseas model in February thanks to start of U.S. production
  

(SEOUL) March 11, 2010 - Kia Motors Corporation announced today its global sales figures for passenger cars (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants), recreational vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles for February 2010, recording a total of 143,267 units sold. This figure represents a year-on-year increase of 39.5%.

In February, Kia posted double digit year-on-year sales increases all sales regions: 128.6% in China (25,435 units sold), 52.7% in general markets (32,578 units sold), 34.4% in Europe* (24,992 units sold), 21.6% in Korea (33,209 units sold) and 11.4% in North America (27,053 units sold).

Cumulatively, through the first two months of 2010, Kia’s global sales increased by 50.6% year-on-year and reached 293,659 units. China experienced the highest gain of 180.9% based on sales of 61,339 units to date in 2010.

The remaining regions have all showed cumulative impressive year-on-year sales increases: 56.7% in general markets (63,305 units sold), 42.8% in Europe* (50,208 units sold), 36.2% in Korea (67,216 units sold) and 7.0% in North America (51,591 units sold).

Kia’s best selling model in overseas markets for the month of February was the C-segment Cerato (known as ‘Forte’ in some markets) with 28,191 units sold. The B-segment Rio and Sportage compact SUV compete for second with 14,307 and 13,862 units sold, respectively. The Sorento mid-size SUV comes in fourth with 11,981 units sold, and the Soul urban crossover rounds out the top five with 8,934 units sold.

In terms of vehicle category sold overseas, Kia’s passenger and recreational vehicles achieved year-on-year increases in February of 51.3% (64,895 units) and 39.9% (41,615 units), respectively.

Hyoung-Keun Lee, President of Kia Motors Corporation, said “We are extremely pleased to have posted double-digit growth in all major sales regions around the world in February. Sales of Kia vehicles in China continue to expand at a remarkable pace, while overseas sales of the all-new Sorento – the first model to produced at our newest production facility in the USA – have exceeded our expectations so far this year. Meanwhile, our outlook for Europe remains strong as sales of our locally produced Venga B-segment MPV are now starting in earnest through the region.”

Editor’s notes:

*Includes figures from Western and Eastern European markets