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Kia Reports Record Sales For 1998; Kia Sales Reach Nearly 85,000 Units

5 January 1999

Kia Reports Record Sales For 1998; Kia Sales Reach Nearly 85,000 Units

    IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 5 -- Kia Motors America today announced
that sales hit an all-time high in 1998, reaching 82,893 units.  This
represents a 50 percent increase from last year's sales total of 55,325 units.
    "We accomplished every goal we set for ourselves this year," said Dick
Macedo, executive vice president, marketing and sales.  "We became a national
company with a dealer network approaching 500, and the outlook for sales
growth continues to be optimistic."
    For 1999, Kia will continue to focus on producing vehicles that offer the
most value for the price as well as strengthening the company's presence in
its established markets.
    Following are Kia sales figures for the month of December and 1998
year-end totals.

                              MONTH OF DECEMBER             YEAR-TO-DATE

                              1998         1997          1998          1997
    Model
    Sephia                   1,785         3,537       54,311        35,494
    Sportage                 1,634         1,394       27,528        19,831
    Sportage 2-Door
     Convertible               123           n/a        1,054           n/a
    Total                    3,542         4,931       82,893        55,325


                       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        3,780        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