Kia keeps up retail pressure

One year on from the peak of the Government’s scrappage scheme and Kia is keeping up its momentum amongst retail customers.

After the healthy September new car market Kia has sold a total of 47,523 cars this year compared to 34,777 at this point in 2009 – a massive 36.6 per cent increase. And retail sales for the year to the end of September total 34,054 – up almost 35 per cent compared to the same period last year when a total of 25,283 units had been sold.

Although Kia’s sales figures for September alone are down compared to the month in 2009 at a still very healthy 8,257 overall (including 5,104 retail units) – when scrappage sales in last year’s performance are removed Kia’s performance is even more impressive. Non-scrappage retail sales in September 2009 totalled 2713 units whilst non-scrappage sales were 4612.

Michael Cole, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) Ltd., said: “Our performance over the year has been outstanding and the underlying trend amongst retail customers remains extremely positive.

“Of course our September figures appear to be down but only because we are comparing a normal September to one buoyed by scrappage last year when we recorded our best ever one-month total of 9,778. The reality is that Kia is continuing to grow strongly amongst retail customers thanks to our excellent new product and simple to understand seven year warranty.

“Our year-to-date performance shows we are on track to achieve an outstanding year for the brand in 2010 and that is reflected by the fact that our total market share for the year has grown from 2.29 per cent to 2.91 per cent and amongst retail customers we now command a 4.34 per cent market share,” he added.