08/01/2010

Kia 'Smashes' Sales Records

With sales of 50,636 vehicles in 2009 Kia Motors (UK) Ltd, has smashed records for the brand both in Britain and across Europe.

This is the first time any Kia subsidiary has broken the 50,000 sales mark in any European country and in the UK it represents a massive boost for the brand’s recognition and popularity amongst new car buyers.

Kia’s overall market share was 2.5% including scrappage. The non-scrappage market share was 2.2%.

The brand’s previous best sales performance was in 2004 when 33,149 vehicles were sold and in 2008 Kia sold 31,323 units and recorded a best-ever retail market share of 1.8%.

Michael Cole, managing director, said: "2009 has been a phenomenal year for Kia and we are extremely proud to be the first market in Europe to break such an important psychological barrier.

"Undoubtedly we have benefited from the Government’s scrappage scheme but the retail non-scrappage performance was up – and that comes on top of an improved performance in 2008 when Kia was one of very few brands to end a year that saw the start of the recession in positive territory.

Kia's best selling vehicle was Picanto with 16,803 customers choosing the brand's city car.

The European designed and built cee'd was the marque’s next best seller, hitting a total of 12,900 in 2009. The Soul – launched in March 2009 – reached expectations with 2,938 sold and the revised and now European-built Sportage recording 3,939 sales.

Mr Cole added: "2010 will clearly be more difficult in overall terms because of the end of the scrappage scheme, but in response to that Kia has announced that all its products sold in Europe will now be covered by the seven year warranty previously only applied to cee’d and Sportage.

"So whilst we do expect the overall market to fall back in 2010 we are confident of holding our improved market share and we shall be expecting year-end sales in excess of 40,000," he added.

(PR/BMcc)

Related Northern Ireland Motoring News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

18 March 2010
New Kia With Seven Year Scheme
Kia Motors is extending the benefits of the UK scrappage scheme with the introduction of Seven Year Switch, offering owners of cars over seven years old the chance to trade up to a new Kia, take home a seven year warranty and save up to £2,000 off the list price.
04 February 2010
January Kia Sales Up
Kia Motors (UK) Ltd recorded its best-ever January sales with more than 5,000 vehicles delivered to customers during the first month of 2010. A total of 5,030 vehicles were registered during January - almost 200% up compared to January last year and Kia’s market share for the month increased to 3.47% – up from 1.52% in 2009.
01 February 2010
Mercedes-Benz Vans Gains Market Share
Mercedes-Benz has seen market share increase - despite the worst UK recession for 60 years – in the 1.8-3.5 tonne segment. Following a strong 2009 sales performance by the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Vito model range, the brand secured market share of 14.96%, increasing its five year market share average by a remarkable 3.4 percentage points.
09 March 2010
Surge Expected In Secondhand Market
With the scrappage scheme in its final month, consumer demand for £4-6,000 second-hand models is expected to surge as new cars become less value for money, says e-retailer Carsite.co.uk.
17 February 2010
Strong NI Mazda Sales
Mazda’s Northern Ireland dealers made a storming start to 2010, lifting the company’s market share to 3.43%, its highest level since October 2008 and well above 2009 levels.