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Kia’s U.S. September 2011 sales
Kia Motors America reports total sales of 35.609 units vehicles in September 2011, a 18 percent increase compared to September 2010!
With year-to-date sales up more than 37 percent, Kia Motors America beats its previous record annual sales total in less than nine months! During the first 9 months of the year, Kia sold 367,405 vehicles in the States, as compared to 268,024 units sold last year.
Leading Kia’s sales last month were the 2012 Sorento CUV and the urban-oriented Soul with 11,112 and 6,666 units respectively. Following the carmaker’s popular crossover vehicles was Kia Optima sedan with 6,191 units sold. The C-segment Forte came in fourth, selling 5,458 units, while the Sportage compact CUV rounded Kia’s top sellers at 3,589 units.
Last year in September, the Sedona sold only 1,706 examples. Surprisingly, this year the Sedona posted better result selling 2,300 + units. Still, the Sedona minivan continues to stay toward the bottom of the best-selling Kia vehicles list.
We know reasons why Kia Rio sales tumbled last month (old models sold out, newer not available yet), but what is going on with the 2012 Soul crossover? A model that received a mid-cycle facelift and also features a vastly improved powertrain technology should post better sales than 6.000 units, right?
For the second straight month, the Soul recorded sales of well under 10.000 units, while prior facelifting, the model constantly sold over 9.000 sales mark. When do you think the Soul’s sales numbers will bounce back?
Kia sales by model – September 2011:
I think a lot of the respectable (but) not “Blockbuster” Kia Soul sales is due to a lot of people waiting to get their hands on the new 2012 Kia Rio5. Hope that the U.S. allocation will be sufficient to accommodate the projected demand. The “square” cube shape of the Soul either does it for you, or not. I think the new 2012 Rio5 will have a broader appeal.
Kia Canada had another record month with their best September ever, selling 6,388 units, up 34.6% over Sept 2010 and the YTD up 22.1%. Sorento had the best month ever at 1684 and increase of 80.1% over Sept 2010, Sportage was up 182% and the Soul registered a 32.3%.
Soul sales will rebound when inventories do. Right now, cars.com shows less than 1,500 cars in the U.S. Now, not every dealer is represented, but those numbers are well below those of say the Forte, which has 3115 showing right now, but sold less for the month. The Sorento, which has been selling in similar numbers of over 10K/mo shows 9,077 cars right now. It’s a supply and not a demand issue.
kia is not well organized according to demands of market
I was recently in the US on vacation (norther eastern states) and stopped at two Kia dealers to take a look at the new Soul and first dealer had none and second dealer only one and between them they only had about 2-3 of the 2011 models left. When I returned back into Canada in the Maritimes I checked out at least eight Canadian dealers and many had none and the ones that had them it was the base model and the largest quantity I saw was three at one dealership.
Kia and Mitsubishi are all you need right now in automotive. Period. Nuff said. Done deal. Forgotten sandwich. Loud Foghat music. Malted milk balls on a stick.
Yesterday I happened to be in the West Palm Beach, FL area. While driving by West Palm Kia that appeared to be bursting at the seams with a (huge) inventory of New Kia`s in all Model types, I noticed, parked out front, were ( 3 ) 2012 Kia Rio5`s. I wanted to examine the vehicle`s up close so I pulled into the lot and checked out the Rio5`s. A salesman came running out and asked if I needed assistance. He then surprised me by telling me that in fact, West Palm Kia was the “Third” Largest Sales Volume Store (nation wide) and # 1 in Kia sales in the (entire) State of Florida! Why is that shocking? The Dealership consists of an old “used Car” Sales Shack, an ancient “car barn” as their Service Department and a (unpaved) dirt lot with hundreds of New Kia`s in inventory. I`m sure Kia and their area “zone manager” are impressed by their sales volume, assuming what I was told was true. If they do in fact, move that much inventory, why has`nt Kia pressured them to either relocate to a “New Store” or build a new facility on the same site? It leave a poor Brand Image selling New Kia`s out of what looks like a “Buy Here-Pay Here” Used Car Lot!
Philip, true, but when shopping for just the particular Kia you want aren’t you primarily just interested in getting your Kia? Who cares about the type of building they’re using? Yes and no. I agree, the more amenities the dealership has the better. Dave Smith Motors of Kellogg, ID, here where I live is spending lots of money upgrading their facilities and I’ve got ta tell you, it does look impressive. And it conveys much more of a professional image about the place you’re buying from. So you’re right, it would be better to spend. West Palm Kia may not have the funds available to build a nice, newer facility. Let me ask you this: do you trust West Palm Kia’s service center to properly do any recall work or repairs on your Kia?
Bryan, Several years ago a did have the occasion to use West Palm Kia`s Service Department to do some warranty work on my 2006 Kia Rio5. All went smooth and the work was done right, the first time. My point is this, a Kia Dealership that brags that they are the # 1 selling Dealership in Florida and # 3 in the entire Nation has enough sales volume to justify building a State of the Art New Dealership. Since they are not selling Kia for “cost” or deeply discounted prices and add on ridiculous so called (Dealer Fee`s) of $700 or more like most other Florida Auto Dealers do, their profit margins are not much smaller, if at all. Especially if a late Model trade is involved, thats where the real (meat) in the Deal is. Hyundai is now encouraging its larger Dealerships, at least here in Florida to remodel or build new “Marque” Stores that look as impressive as Mercedes Benz, BMW, or Audi Dealerships! Kia is no longer a second or third tier Brand, accordingly, its Dealerships should convey the Brands new found Image that they have rightly earned.
Definitely-Corporate should be getting that message across loud and clear to participating dealerships and pronto. It does mean a lot, and it could mean the difference between being a truly upmarket brand that is continually striving to be the world’s best and just another value leader.