Kia Announces 11th Consecutive Year of Record Sales
December Sales Up Eight Percent, Year-to-Date Sales Up 14-Percent
IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 4 -- Kia Motors America (KMA) today posted record sales numbers for the month of December and announced the company's eleventh consecutive year of sales increases. With an eight percent increase over the same month last year, the company sold 20,108 vehicles in December, bringing KMA's year-to-date sales to 270,055 -- a 14-percent increase over 2003.
"In 2004 we saw the positive effects of a more upscale product mix move the overall Kia brand appeal to a broader audience," said Peter M. Butterfield, Kia president and chief executive officer. "The Optima mid-size sedan, Sedona mini van and Sorento midsize SUV continued to drive sales, with record gains for the year. And now as we re-enter the compact SUV market with the all-new Sportage arriving at dealers in February and prepare for the launch of the redesigned Rio and Sedona, we'll offer even more quality and value choices for American consumers in 2005."
The Optima, Sedona and Sorento each posted their best year ever in total sales. Optima sales were up 29-percent in December, with total sales for the midsize sedan reaching 53,492 for 2004 -- a 54-percent year-over-year increase. Sorento SUV sales were up 11-percent in December and 30-percent for the year, reaching 52,878 total units sold. And Sedona posted a 21-percent increase for the year totaling 61,149 units.
Kia Motors America is the U.S. sales, marketing and service arm of Kia Motors Corp. in Seoul, South Korea.
MONTH OF DECEMBER YEAR-TO-DATE
Model 2004 2003 2004 2003
Optima 5,428 4,195 53,492 34,681
Rio 1,609 2,514 38,518 41,285
Sedona 3,741 4,310 61,149 50,628
Spectra 2,878 2,753 44,004 63,049
Sportage 56 28 120 5,616
Sorento 4,362 3,919 52,878 40,787
Amanti 2,034 856 19,894 1,425
Total 20,108 18,575 270,055 237,471
TOTAL U.S. SALES OF KIA VEHICLES
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
January 605 1,227 1,508 2,624 7,197
February 626 1,053 1,887 2,529 6,196
March 638 1,309 2,197 3,093 6,082
April 714 1,256 2,300 3,541 5,530
May 1,010 1,907 3,481 4,917 6,301
June 1,053 1,665 4,401 3,992 9,215
July 1,106 2,662 3,241 5,024 10,095
August 1,368 2,881 4,229 6,321 8,016
September 1,528 2,729 3,780 7,123 7,355
October 1,207 2,437 3,797 5,913 8,634
November 1,156 2,640 3,174 5,317 4,730
December 1,152 2,974 2,279 4,931 3,542
Total 12,163 24,740 36,274 55,325 82,893
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
January 9,461 8,143 12,513 16,574 18,524 17,029
February 6,703 11,392 12,665 17,509 17,769 18,586
March 11,400 12,729 19,159 21,478 21,353 23,769
April 10,606 12,422 16,060 20,366 19,542 23,438
May 12,795 13,709 20,048 22,790 22,007 25,443
June 13,593 16,140 21,188 22,498 20,311 27,636
July 13,136 12,300 19,405 23,061 24,009 23,637
August 13,138 16,454 23,276 23,564 24,758 21,132
September 11,846 16,438 20,585 18,179 19,269 23,001
October 10,641 13,726 24,523 17,960 15,181 22,973
November 11,820 12,643 16,940 18,741 16,173 23,303
December 9,455 14,510 17,365 14,625 18,575 20,108
Total 134,594 160,606 223,727 237,345 237,471 270,055