KIA MOTORS AMERICA SETS ALL TIME MAY RECORD
Sales Up 20.6 Percent Month Over Month and 14.6 Percent Year to Date
All-New 2011 Sorento CUV is Best-Seller for Fifth Consecutive Month
IRVINE, Calif., June 2, 2010 Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced the brands best May sales ever of 31,431 units, a 20.6-percent increase over the same period last year, while surpassing the previous May sales record of 31,047 set in 2008. Year-to-date sales are up 14.6-percent with the all-new Sorento CUV again leading the way as Kias best-selling vehicle. As the brands first vehicle to be assembled1 in the U.S. and recently announced as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick, the Sorento posted sales of 8,166 units. The stylish Forte compact achieved a record 7,299 units sold while the personalizable and affordable Soul urban passenger vehicle delivered sales of 6,134 units; both recent IIHS Top Safety Picks.
Mays record-breaking sales results were once again led by Sorento, which is a clear indication that its combination of distinctive design and standout modern technology features is attracting new consumers to the Kia brand, said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG). Our continued brand growth in the U.S. supports an aggressive launch schedule of several all-new, dramatically styled Kia vehicles that will build on eye-catching models such as Sorento, Soul and Forte that have created emotional connections with consumers.
Kia Motors is in the midst of a dramatic, design-led transformation, which has been delivering dynamically styled vehicles in several important segments at exactly the right time, contributing to the brands continued gains in U.S. market share. With three new vehicle introductions and several other key initiatives planned for 2010, Kia is poised to continue its momentum and build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, safety features and with new technology such as UVO powered by Microsoft2, an advanced hands-free in-car communication and entertainment system (expected to be available in select Kia models in the U.S. beginning in summer 2010).
About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 670 dealers throughout the United States. For 2009, KMA recorded its 15th consecutive year of increased U.S. market share. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline The Power to Surprise.
Kia Motors America is the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA. Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.
MONTH OF MAY
YEAR-TO-DATE
Model
2010
2009
2010
2009
Rio
2,334
1,680
11,932
9,274
Spectra
27
7,896
215
30,066
Forte
7,299
10
26,000
10
Optima
2,394
2,322
14,572
11,058
Amanti
44
224
164
3,202
Sportage
2,293
4,409
7,295
15,867
Sorento
23
1,701
757
14,547
MY’11 Sorento
8,166
n/a
41,413
n/a
Sedona
1,938
1,937
7,909
17,632
Rondo
374
1,530
2,812
8,371
Borrego
405
496
2,886
2,169
Soul
6,134
3,855
22,208
8,363
Total
31,431
26,060
138,163
120,559
1 Kia vehicles assembled at the Kia U.S. plant are assembled in the U.S. from U.S. and globally-sourced parts.
2 Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.