Kia U.S. sales soar 48 percent in November

Kia Motors America today reported its best-ever November sales. The South Korean automaker announced record sales of 26.601 vehicles, a 48.2-percent increase over the same period last year. Overall Kia sales so far this year are up 16.8 percent compared to a year ago and have already exceeded Kia’s previous full-year sales record set in 2007.

Kia‘s sales in November 2010 were led by popular 2011 Sorento crossover, which has been a popular choice among U.S. consumers ever since its January launch. Kia dealerships across the States sold 9.618 units of the US-built Sorento crossover last month. So far this year, nearly 100.000 units of new Sorento crossover have been sold in the USA, which is a remarkable achievement for Kia Motors America.

With 5.582 and 5.324 units sold, respectively, the Soul crossover and Forte / Forte Koup were the second and third best-selling automobiles in the Kia range last month. The two popular compact cars were followed by a brand-new Sportage CUV with sales topping 1.780 units in November 2010. According to Kia, the newly launched models, which include new Sorento, 2011 Sportage CUV, Optima, Soul and Forte accounted for accounted for more than 84 percent of the automaker’s monthly sales volume.

“Surpassing our previous best annual U.S. sales mark in just 11 months is the ultimate proof of the dramatic impact Kia’s design-led transformation is having on the brand in terms of increased consumer awareness and consideration of Kia. Our transformation continues with the all-new 2011 Optima now arriving in showrooms, to be followed in the coming months by the introduction of our first turbocharged and hybrid vehicles in the U.S. market,” commented Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of Kia Motors America and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia – KMMG.

Kia U.S. sales by model – November 2010: