Kia May 2009 global sales increases 11.5%

Kia global sales continue to grow. More than 141,900 Kia vehicles sold in May 2009 globally. Compact Spectra / Forte sedan still the best selling Kia model worldwide.

As you’ll see from the latest Kia sales report, the Korean second largest car company continues to perform very well in term of sales in the global markets. The company has today announced it has sold 141.949 vehicles around the world in May 2009, while its cumulative sales in the first five months of the fiscal year reached 590.934 units representing a 0.5 percent year-on-year increase when compared to the numbers from a year ago.

While major automakers have been all loosing ground, Kia (and its parent Hyundai Motor Company) continues to perform exceptionally well. The trend of positive sales at Kia is expected to continue with the launch of new models such as Kia Forte Koup, Picanto facelift, new Sorento and the upcoming luxury sedan codenamed Kia VG.

In the first five months of fiscal year, Kia’s best selling model overseas has been a four-door Spectra sedan, known also as Forte in the US market and Cerato in Australia. With 95.883 units sold so far the Spectra sedan sits a top of Kia sales chart. Far behind, in the second spot is the B-segment Rio with 60.780 units sold until now.

The sub-compact Rio is followed closely by the Sportage compact SUV with 58.091 units sold and the C-segment cee’d with sales of 50.544. Rounding out the top five best selling Kias is the A-segment Picanto, which also continues to perform well. More than 35.950 units of Picanto were sold already this year.

In May 2009, Kia posted the largest year-on-year sales increases in China, where the company has sold 20.252 units. (+51.3 percent). Sales have also taken off in South Korea with 38.102 units, +44.0 percent) and general markets with 23.430 units (+13.0 percent).

Through May 2009, General markets experienced the largest gain, selling 110.289 units (+ 17.0%), while the Korean and Chinese markets showed cumulative year-on-year sales increases of 14.2 percent (146,518 units) and 13.5 percent (74,797 units), respectively. Cumulatively through the first five months of 2009, Kia’s global sales increased by 0.5 percent compared to a year earlier and reached 590.934 units.

In terms of vehicle category sold overseas, Kia’s recreational vehicles achieved an increase of 24.6 percent year-on-year, selling 36.187 units in May.