Kia’s domestic sales in India surpass 1 million

Kia India has achieved a remarkable feat in India, having sold one million vehicles in the country. This achievement comes just five years after the company started operations in India. Much of this success is attributed to the mid-size SUV Kia Seltos, which accounts for over 48% of total domestic sales in India. The Sonet and Carens models launched after the Seltos account for 34% and 16% of Kia India’s total shipments respectively. Since its launch in 2019, the brand has benefited from steady growth in its dealer network and product range. 42% of the brand’s sales come from premium trims, also disproving the notion that India has only price-sensitive buyers. Moreover, the South Korean carmaker has played an important role in popularizing the use of automatic transmissions.

The three automatic transmission options offered by the South Korean automaker – six-speed AT, seven-speed DCT and IVT – together account for 32% of its total sales. With the launch of the 2020 Sonet, Kia introduced the iMT (intelligent manual transmission), which now accounts for 15% of the brand’s local shipments. Currently, the company’s petrol and diesel sales are split 59% to 41%.

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Kia India Review

Speaking about this milestone, Joonsu Cho, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India said, “Since our launch, we have been achieving milestones at a record pace. These milestones become more significant when you are faced with the diversity of this country in every aspect and competition from traditional players with more than a decade of experience. Achieving one million units of domestic sales is a testament to our continued focus on the Indian market and the need gaps of Indian customers. I sincerely thank all our customers who have placed their trust in our brand and made us one of the most loved car manufacturers in India.”

“Kia is synonymous with innovation. With our latest technology, design and in-car features, we are constantly challenging established practices, not just in India but globally. We will soon launch our global flagship model in India this year followed by a new local model which will prove the above statement. India is a booming place for automotive companies and with our innovative and ambitious products and services, we are sure to be one of the major catalysts for growth in the Indian automotive industry,” he added.

Kia India sales so far

Kia India sold 45,226 vehicles in 2019; in the following years, the company achieved significant growth, with sales of more than 140,000 vehicles in 2020, more than 181,000 vehicles in 2021, and about 255,000 vehicles in 2022. Kia increased its market share in 2023, with annual sales reaching 255,000 vehicles. In the first seven months of 2024, Kia sold nearly 150,000 vehicles in the Indian market.

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Kia has built a vast network covering 256 cities with 588 touch points. In addition, it has shipped more than 260,000 vehicles to more than 100 other markets, making it an indispensable export hub for the company outside its home market. If local and international shipments are added together, the total sales volume is about 1.3 million vehicles.