Kia Sorento, Sedona Sales Enjoy Best Month Ever

Kia Year-To-Date Sales Up

IRVINE, Calif., June 3 -- Record monthly sales for the Kia Sorento SUV and Sedona minivan helped Kia continue the company's pace to set another annual record, despite May unit sales as a whole dropping 3.4 percent versus the same month in 2002. Year-to-date sales of 99,195 are up nearly half a percent, while May unit sales totaled 22,007 versus 22,790 units sold during the same period in 2002.

"As we near the mid-year mark I'm confident we'll continue our pace for another record year for Kia," said Peter M. Butterfield, Kia's president and chief executive officer. "Our Sorento and Sedona both achieved record success in May, and both vehicles set the pace for the brand in receiving consumer awards and accolades."

Kia Motors America is the U.S. sales, marketing and service arm of Kia Motors Corp. in Seoul, South Korea.

                               MONTH OF MAY               YEAR-TO-DATE

  Model                     2003          2002         2003          2002

   Optima                  3,635         4,087       11,821        15,722
   Rio                     3,184         4,280       15,342        18,300
   Sedona                  5,322         3,431       20,607        14,309
   Spectra                 5,514         8,261       30,104        34,062
   Sportage                  181         2,731        5,248        16,324
   Sorento                 4,171           n/a       16,073           n/a

   Total                  22,007        22,790       99,195        98,717