Kia Motors posts 5.7% increase in November overseas sales

- 70,118 Kia vehicles sold overseas in November

- Sales in Europe, North America and general market post 0.2%, 7.8% and 13.2% year-on-year growth, respectively, in November

- Cumulative overseas sales through November post 2.6% year-on-year gain

(SEOUL) December 1, 2006 -- Kia Motors Corporation announced today that its overseas retail sales of passenger cars and light trucks in November 2006 recorded 70,118 units, representing a 5.7% year-on-year increase.

By region, the General Market posted a year-on-year sales rise of 13.2% in November with 17,420 units sold. Meanwhile, sales of Kia vehicles in North America and the Europe recorded 23,969 units (7.8% year-on-year increase) and 28,729 units (0.2% year-on-year increase), respectively.

Cumulatively through the first eleven months of 2006, Kia’s overseas sales have risen by 2.6% year-on-year to reach 768,510 units, with Europe showing the largest gain at 4.4%. North American sales have increased by 2.9% while general market sales have decreased by 1.1% through the month of November.

So far in 2006, Kia’s best selling model in export markets has been the A- segment Picanto with 119,376 units sold, closely followed by the C-segment Cerato (known as ‘Spectra’ in some markets). Meanwhile, Kia’s popular SUVs have performed well, with overseas sales of the Sorento mid-size SUV and Sportage compact SUV reaching 116,040 and 96,577 units sold, respectively. The B-segment Rio has also been a steady seller with 95,707 units delivered through the first eleven months of 2006.

Jung-Moon Park, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Kia Motors Corporation, said, “Kia’s slowing European sales in recent months will surely be significantly boosted in the very near future as sales of our first ever car designed and built in Europe - the cee’d 5-door family car - goes on sale in December throughout the region.”

“If the overwhelmingly positive reactions of Europe’s top automotive journalists who attended the cee’d media test drive in Rome this week are any indication, we are confident that the cee’d will drastically transform the perception of the Kia brand as a true top-of-class competitor in the ever popular C-segment,” he added.

Editor’s notes:

1) Figures do not include domestic sales and KD (knock down) exports assembled at overseas plants including China.

2) “General market” includes the regions of Central & South America, Asia & Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.