Kia Motors America Announces Best-Ever November Sales And 27th Consecutive Monthly Sales Record

U.S. Sales Surpass 500,000 Vehicles for First Time in Company History; Annual Sales Up 17.3 Percent

IRVINE, CA--Dec. 3, 2012: Kia Motors America (KMA) has been one of the fastest-growing car companies in the U.S. over the last five years[1], and November saw the brand achieve its 27th straight month of record sales with 41,055 units sold, a 10.9-percent increase over the same period in 2011. Year-to-date sales are up 17.3 percent over 2011, and the brand achieved another important milestone in November with the sale of its 500,000th vehicle in 2012 -- a first for Kia in the U.S. The U.S.-built* Optima midsize sedan has been Kia's best-selling vehicle each month in 2012, and that trend continued in November with 12,715 units sold, and together with the popular Sorento CUV -- also built at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia -- represents more than 40 percent of Kia's record November volume.

"Kia has sustained record-setting momentum for more than two years, and eclipsing the 500,000 vehicle sales mark for the first time is an historic achievement for KMA and our dealers," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia. "The popular Optima is on track to set an all-time single year record for a Kia nameplate, and the upcoming launches of the all-new 2014 Forte sedan and refreshed 2014 Sorento unveiled last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show will take the value equation we are known for and advance it to new levels of sophistication with exciting technologies such as the next generation UVO eServices hands-free infotainment system."

Kia's Unprecedented Growth
Kia Motors is one of the world's fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America's full line of fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality ^[2] and the industry's highest brand loyalty ranking ^[3] . Kia's U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia -- KMMG -- is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds two of the company's best-selling vehicles in the U.S. -- the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan*. Kia's value and technology-laden lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.

* The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX Trims and certain LX Trims only) and GDI Turbo are built in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.
[1] Based on 5-year cumulative growth between 12-month retail sales for periods ending October 2007 and October 2012 of all U.S. automotive brands.
[2] Source: Automotive Lease Guide Spring 2011 Perceived Quality Study.
[3] Source: Experian Automotive Q2 2011 market analysis.
[4] Based on 5-year cumulative growth between 12-month retail sales for periods ending October 2007 and October 2012 of all U.S. automotive brands.