Kia Bucks The Market With Another Record Year For Sales

January 7, 2019 by Kia

•Kia records 95,764 sales in 2018

•Total sales up by 2.7 per cent over 2017

•Sales up in UK new car market down by 6.8 per cent

Kia Motors (UK) Limited achieved another new sales record in 2018 with 95,751 vehicles delivered to customers – an increase of 2.7 per cent over 2017's record total of 93,222.

Despite the new car market being down by 6.8 per cent in the year, Kia's product onslaught allowed the brand to out-perform expectations by growing its market share to 4.0 per cent.

The marque's best-seller was once again Sportage – which received a face-lift mid-year – with more than 35,500 customers choosing the brand's compact SUV, helping it to gain 10 place in the best-seller chart. The ever-popular Picanto held on to its place as second-best seller with more than 16,800 sold. The all-new Ceed and its predecessor variant was third with over 9,800 delivered to owners. Stonic and the Niro family of hybrid variants completed Kia's Top Five.

Paul Philpott, President and Chief Executive commented: 'We are delighted to achieve another new record and we are grateful to all of our customers – old and new – for their faith in our growing range of products and our outstanding 192-strong dealer network. I think our success shows that in a time of economic uncertainty a great customer experience, thoroughly modern and advanced product and an industry leading warranty has strong appeal to both retail and business buyers.

'We had a very busy 2018, replacing the European designed, engineered and built Ceed family and introducing a face-lifted version of Sportage – including our first 48volt mild hybrid. There are other versions of Ceed to come in 2019 and we are eagerly awaiting the first deliveries of our 282-mile range e-Niro that will make anxiety-free electric driving a reality for the mainstream car buyer.

'But we are not going to sit back on our laurels and along with our dealer network we shall be looking to make Kia ownership ever more appealing for customers with more advanced electric technology due over the next few years and in 2019 we want to continue to grow – taking us ever-closer to our stated goal of 100,000 sales a year by the end of the decade,' he added.

The 2018 total marks the seventh record year in a row for Kia and brings the brand's total UK sales close to the one million mark since its first arrival in 1991.

Coming during the first quarter of 2019 is the sleek ProCeed five-door shooting-brake to add flexibility and style to the family saloon segment, followed almost immediately by the battery-powered e-Niro to complete the three-model electric-focused Niro family.

In addition a fourth body-style is due to be added to the Ceed family before the end of 2019 and Kia has confirmed that the recently revealed new Soul EV is destined for British showrooms as soon as supply allows around the end of the year.

posted on conceptcarz.com

Kia Bucks The Market With Another Record Year For Sales

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