Kia Motors posts 36% Increase in April Global Sales

SYDNEY – May 13, 2010: Kia Motors Corporation announced today its global sales figures for passenger cars (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants), recreational vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles for April 2010, recording a total of 174,505 units sold. This figure represents a year-on-year increase of 36.0%.

In April, Kia posted impressive double digit year-on-year sales increases in all sales regions: 62.9% in general markets (38,926 units sold), 54.6% in China (28,082 units sold), 32.8% in Korea (38,513 units sold), 24.1% in Europe* (33,891 units sold) and 17.4% in North America (35,093 units sold).

Cumulatively, through the first four months of 2010, Kia's global sales increased by 43.8% year-on-year and reached 645,515 units. China experienced the highest gain of 116.7% based on sales of 118,213 units to date in 2010.

The remaining regions have all showed cumulative strong year-on-year sales increases: 58.1% in general markets (137,345 units sold), 34.3% in Europe* (124,570 units sold), 32.6% in Korea (143,744 units sold) and 14.4% in North America (121,643 units sold).

Kia's best selling model in overseas markets for the month of April was the C-segment Cerato (known as 'Forte' in some markets) with 34,987 units sold. The B-segment Rio and Sportage compact SUV compete for second with 17,393 and 16,366 units sold, respectively. The Sorento mid-size CUV comes in fourth with 13,732 units sold and the European C-segment cee'd rounds out the top five with 11,511 units sold.

In terms of vehicle category sold overseas, Kia's recreational vehicles and passenger cars achieved year-on-year increases in April of 43.3% (50,044 units) and 34.0% (81,880 units), respectively.

Hyoung-Keun Lee, President of Kia Motors Corporation, said, "Kia's sales performance around the world so far in 2010 has been buoyed by strong customer demand for our smaller segment vehicles like the all-new Cerato (Forte) C-segment and Rio B-segment passenger cars, as well as our competitive recreational vehicles like the all-new Sorento and Sportage."

"With completely redesigned and reengineered models like the next generation Sportage and Optima D-segment sedan due to go on sale later this year, we expect to see even more dramatic positive changes in consumer perceptions toward the Kia brand in the months ahead."