Continuing high demand across Europe for Kia products during August, pushed Kia Motors sales up 36% last month to more than 18,000 vehicles in what is traditionally a ‘quiet’ month for new car sales in the peak holiday season. Sales for the first eight months of 2005 reached almost 180,000 (178,006) units – 58% higher than the Kia brand achieved in same period of 2004.
Top of the model sales was the Kia Picanto with a total of 55,160 units delivered. The 4X4 Sorento achieved (27,083 units) followed closley by the Sportage (26,770), Carnival/Sedona (17,044) and Cerato (17,034) over the eight month period.
Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President of Kia Motors Europe said: “Even in the holiday season, our expanding dealer network attracted more new customers to the Kia brand and with supplies of the all-new Rio arriving and the launch of Picanto Diesel we expect to continue our highly successful 2005.”
Kia Motors Europe is the European sales, marketing, and service arm of Kia Motors Corporation. With its headquarters in Eschborn, Germany, it covers 28 markets in Europe. The European sales target is 300,000 units per year by 2005, thanks to new products and new diesel engines.
