Kia Reports 1997 Record Sales
5 January 1998
Kia Reports Record Sales for 1997; Kia Sales Exceed 55,000 Units
IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 5 -- Kia Motors America today announced
that sales hit an all-time high in 1997, reaching 55,325 total units. This
figure is a 66 percent jump from last year's sales total of 36,274 units.
"This was our best year ever," said Greg Warner, executive vice president
and chief operating officer. "We continued our expansion efforts up the
Atlantic Coast as far as New York. This expansion was a major factor in our
sales growth, and we've seen tremendous growth in our established markets."
For 1998, Kia will continue its market-by-market roll-out, culminating in
a national dealer network by the end of the year. Kia currently has 321
dealers in 32 states.
Following are Kia sales figures for the month of December and 1997 year-
end totals.
Total U.S. Sales of Kia Vehicles
1994 1995 1996 1997
January 605 1,227 1,508 2,624
February 626 1,053 1,887 2,529
March 638 1,309 2,197 3,093
April 714 1,256 2,300 3,541
May 1,010 1,907 3,481 4,917
June 1,053 1,665 4,401 3,992
July 1,106 2,662 3,241 5,024
August 1,368 2,881 4,229 6,321
September 1,528 2,729 3,780 7,123
October 1,207 2,437 3,780 5,913
November 1,156 2,640 3,174 5,317
December 1,152 2,974 2,279 4,931
Total 12,163 24,740 36,274 55,325
U.S. Sales of Kia Sephia
1994 1995 1996 1997
January 605 1,070 933 1,492
February 626 884 1,324 1,483
March 638 1,040 1,759 1,921
April 714 927 2,014 2,305
May 1,010 1,388 3,180 2,847
June 1,053 1,130 3,959 2,568
July 1,106 1,743 2,613 3,398
August 1,368 1,969 2,797 4,087
September 1,528 1,838 2,362 4,733
October 1,207 1,714 2,411 3,610
November 1,156 1,411 1,788 3,513
December 1,152 1,611 1,226 3,537
Total 12,163 16,725 26,366 35,494
U.S. Sales of Kia Sportage
1994 1995 1996 1997
January 0 157 575 1,132
February 0 169 563 1,046
March 0 269 438 1,172
April 0 329 286 1,236
May 0 519 301 2,070
June 0 535 442 1,424
July 0 919 628 1,626
August 0 912 1,432 2,234
September 0 891 1,418 2,390
October 0 723 1,386 2,303
November 0 1,229 1,386 1,804
December 0 1,363 1,053 1,394
Total 0 8,015 9,908 19,831
SOURCE Kia Motors America