Premier Automotive Group Australia

[21.01.10]

Kia Motors Posts 20.1% Increase in 2009 Global Sales

• 1,651,920 Kia vehicles sold globally in 2009 for a 20.1% year-on-year increase
• 2009 sales in China, Korea, general markets, North America, and Western Europe post year-on-year sales growth of 69.9%, 30.4%, 16.2%, 11.3%, and 7.7%, respectively
• Cerato (Forte) is Kia's best selling overseas model in 2009 with 304,295 units delivered

Kia Motors Corporation has announced that its global sales figures for passenger cars (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants), recreational vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles for 2009 reached an all-time high of 1,651,920 units sold, cementing Kia's position as one of the world's fasting growing automakers. This figure represents a year-on-year increase of 20.1%.

By region, Kia posted year-on-year sales increases in China (256,732 units sold, a 69.9% year-on-year increase), Korea (412,752 units sold, a 30.4% year-on-year increase), general markets (304,522 units, a 16.2% year-on-year increase), North America (346,181 units, a 11.3% year-on-year increase) and Western Europe (242,288 units, a 7.7% year-on-year increase).

For the month of December 2009, significant double digit sales growth was achieved in China (35,010 units sold, a 107.0% year-on-year increase), Korea (46,523 units sold, a 69.1% year-on-year increase), North America (23,693 units sold, a 45.5% year-on-year increase), Europe* (28,073 units sold, a 40.6% year-on-year increase) and general markets (29,417 units sold, a 31.4% year-on-year increase).

Kia's best selling model in overseas markets in 2009 was the C-segment Cerato (known as 'Spectra' or 'Forte' in some markets) with 304,295 units sold. Kia's B-segment Rio and Sportage compact SUV competed for second position with 177,299 and 172,296 units sold, respectively. The C-segment cee'd came fourth with 124,389 units sold, and the Picanto rounded out the top five with 100,355 units.

In terms of vehicle categories sold overseas, Kia's passenger and recreational vehicles achieved year-on-year increases in 2009 of 16.6% (776,352 units) and 19.7% (428,512 units), respectively.

"2009 was another stellar year for Kia Motors as we turned the global economic downturn into an opportunity to raise market share in all regions, while winning the hearts of many new customers with our exciting new line-up of stylish, fuel efficient vehicles that offer unsurpassed value for money," said Hyoung-Keun Lee, President of Kia Motors Corporation.

"We are excited about continuing this momentum in 2010 with the ongoing introduction of next generation Kia vehicles while continuing to raise the profile of the Kia brand through exciting marketing activities like the sponsorship of this year's FIFA World Cup South AfricaTM," he noted.

Editor's notes:
*Includes figures from Western and Eastern European markets

Related Kia Motors broadcast-standard or streaming-quality video (for Web use), print-quality stills and other press material available at Kia Motors' Multimedia Library (www.kiamotors.com), powered by The NewsMarket. Delivery options include digital FTP transfer and streaming download in a variety of file types including Flash, MPEG-2, QuickTime and Windows Media. Registration and content is free to the media.

About Kia:
Kia Motors Corporation (www.kia.com) -- a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart -- was founded in 1944 and is Korea's oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to become one of the world's premier automotive brands. Nearly 1.5 million vehicles a year are produced in 13 manufacturing and assembly operations in eight countries which are then sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 172 countries. Kia today has over 40,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues of over US$14.5 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Open and an official automotive partner of FIFA -- the governing body of the FIFA World Cup™ -- as well as a EUROTOP partner of UEFA. Kia Motors Corporation's brand slogan -- "The Power to Surprise" -- represents the company's global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.

 

For further information contact:

Saxonberg has 45 collective years of experience in the OEM and aftermarket automotive service industry. His positions have included technician, service manager, independent shop owner, technical instructor, instructional designer, service engineer, compliance engineer, industry liaison and technical manager.

His current responsibilities include:

• Toyota/Scion/Lexus Environment, Health, Safety, Hazmat and Service Compliance
• End of Life Vehicle Recycling
• Government, Industry and Aftermarket relations

He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and a graduate of the University of Denver (1974) where he earned his BSBA in finance and economics.

AASA Vision Conference 2010 event registration is available by clicking here. On this page, visitors have the option of registering electronically or downloading a fax-back form. AASA full service supplier members who register before Friday, Feb. 12, will be entered in a drawing for one of three iPod Touches.
 
Hotel reservations can be made at the InterContinental Chicago O’Hare, Rosemont, Ill., and the AASA Vision Conference 2010 room rate of $129 per night and guaranteed room availability expire on Friday, Feb. 22, 2010.
 
AASA Vision Conference 2010: “Know Your Parts,” exclusive to AASA member companies, will kick-off with a Welcome Reception on the evening of Tuesday, March 16, following meetings of the AASA Board of Governors and AASA councils.

The program will begin on Wednesday morning, March 17, with keynote addresses by aftermarket channel partners, best practice presentations by members and panel discussions of trends and challenges affecting automotive aftermarket suppliers.
 
Other Conference highlights include:

• Sale Force panel discussion, “What Channel Partners Expect:” Moderator – Jack Cameron, AASA vice president; panelists – David Barbeau, vice president global independent aftermarket business unit, Delphi Product & Service Solutions; Jeff Brekke, president, N.A. automotive aftermarket, The Gates Corp.; Jim Duckworth, president, Quaker City Motor Parts (NAPA); Tim Lee, president, Lang Distributing; Roger McCollum, president, N.A. Williams Co.;
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• “Driving Business Success in these Dynamic Times:” Mike Hanley, global automotive leader, Ernst & Young;
• Panel of AASA member executives discussing why they support OptiCat, the supplier-centric electronic catalog model: Moderator – Chris Gardner, AASA vice president; panelists – Jay Burkhart, Federal-Mogul; Dennis Welvaert, Dayco; Jeff Alexander, Affinia Group;
• Government affairs discussion led by Ann Wilson, senior vice president of government affairs, Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA);
• “Your Association at Work:” AASA council update presented by Jeremy Denton, director, AASA; and
• “Member Spotlights,” featuring innovative business solutions at AASA supplier member companies.
 
The AASA Vision Conference 2010: “Know Your Parts” will conclude at approximately 5 p.m. on March 17 with a Networking Reception. Additional AASA council meetings are scheduled for Thursday, March 18, at the InterContinental following the conference.
 
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AASA exclusively serves manufacturers of aftermarket components, tools and equipment, and related products. It is a recognized industry change agent – promoting a collaborative industry environment, providing a forum to address issues and serving as a valued resource for members. AASA is an affiliate of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA).