Kia records best-ever first-half sales of 1.57 million units

Kia Corporation has announced its 2023 first-half and June global sales results. From January to June 2023, the company posted total global sales of 1,575,920 units, recording its highest ever first-half sales results. This represents a 11% increase compared to January-June 2022’s 1,419,486 units. Kia’s previous best first-half sales performance was in 2014, when a total of 1,546,850 units were sold.

Outside of Korea, sales were up 10.8% in H1 CY2023 to 1,281,067 units. In the Korean market, Kia recorded sales of 292,103 units, a 11.5% increase year over year.

Kia SUV models have led the company’s strong 2023 sales momentum with the Sportage and Seltos SUV models each selling 260,485 units and 157,188 units. The Sorento SUV followed with 115,644 units.

Best-ever H1 results in US, Europe and India

Excluding special purpose vehicles, Kia sales outside of Korea during the first half of 2023 increased 10.8% compared to the same period last year, with 1,281,067 units sold.

As per the company statement, Kia has posted strong performance globally, also recording its highest first-half sales results in key regions, including the US, Europe, and India.

In the first half of 2023, Kia recorded sales of 415,708 units in the US (up 16% YoY), 318,753 units in Europe (up 10% YoY), and 136,108 units in India (up 12%). The previous first-half sales records for each region were 358,091 units (U.S., 2015), 280,993 units (Europe, 2022), and 121,823 units (India, 2022). This means the India market accounts for an 8.63% share of Kia Corp’s global sales in first-half 2023.

As per Kia Corp, Kia India has sold a total of 136,108 units in first-half CY2023, which translates into an 8.63% contribution to Kia's global sales. 

The Sportage SUV led the sales outside of Korea, recording 224,401 units in the January-June period. The Sportage was followed by the Seltos SUV, which sold 130,244 units and the K3 sedan (also known as Forte outside of Korea), which sold 100,781 units.

Korea sales also a record high

In the first half of 2023, Kia sold 292,103 units, excluding special purpose vehicles, which is a 11.5 percent increase from the same period last year. This is the highest ever first half sales results in Korea, with the previous record at 278,384 units in the first half of 2021.

From January to June 2023, the Carnival MPV topped sales in Korea with 39,350 units sold. The Sorento and Sportage SUV followed, with each selling 36,558 and 36,084 units.

June 2023 global sales results

In June 2023 alone, Kia recorded total global sales of 278,256 units, a 7.2 percent increase compared to the same month last year. In line with the H1 trend, SUV models also led June sales, with the Sportage SUV model selling 49,869 units, followed by the Seltos (25,028 units) and Sorento (21,380 units).

Sales outside of Korea were up 5.8% from a year earlier to 226,631 units. In markets outside of Korea, the Sportage SUV led the sales momentum with 43,451 units sold, followed by the Seltos (19,804 units) and the K3 sedan (17,939 units).

In the Korean market, Kia recorded 51,002 units, up 13.3% year over year. The Sorento SUV was the best-seller in the company’s home market, with sales of 6,978 units. The Sportage SUV and Carnival MPV followed with sales of 6,418 units and 6,358 units each.

Kia’s sales records in the first half of 2023 reflect the strong demand of global customers as well as Kia’s increasing competitivity in the global market. The company expects its brand proposition to be further strengthened with the new EV9, its first three-row seat electric flagship SUV, soon to be rolled out in global markets. 

Additional reporting by Ajit Dalvi