• Kia achieves 2023 1H global sales of 1.58 million units, recording its highest ever first half results
  ⋯ Outside of Korea, Kia sold 1.28 million units, up 10.8% Y/y
  ⋯ In Korea, Kia sold 292,103 units, up 11.5% Y/y
• Kia SUV models led the company’s strong sales with the Sportage SUV selling 260,485 units, followed by the Seltos and Sorento SUV
• June 2023 global sales at 278,256 units, up 7.2% Y/y
  ⋯ Outside of Korea, Kia sold 226,631 units, up 5.8% Y/y
  ⋯ In Korea, Kia sold 51,002 units, up 13.3% Y/y

Kia Corporation today announced its 2023 first half and June global sales results.

From January to June 2023, Kia posted total global sales of 1,575,920 units, recording its highest ever first half sales results. This represents a 11 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

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

Kia’s previous best first half sales performance was in 2014, when a total of 1,546,850 units were sold. This included 1,328,086 units outside of Korea and 218,764 units in Korea were sold at the time (※ Sales based on shipments, wholesale figures have been implemented since 2017)

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.

Sales outside of Korea

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

Kia posted strong performance globally, also recording its highest first half sales results in key regions, including the U.S., Europe, and India.

In the first half of 2023, Kia each recorded 415,708 units in the U.S., 318,753 units in Europe, and 136,108 units in India.

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).

The Sportage SUV also led the sales outside of Korea, recording 224,401 units. 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

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.

The company’s SUV models also led June sales, with the Sportage SUV model selling 49,869 units. The Seltos and Sorento SUV followed each selling 25,028 units and 21,380 units in June 2023.

Sales outside of Korea were up 5.8 percent 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. The Sportage was followed by the Seltos SUV, which sold 19,804 units and the K3 sedan which sold 17,939 units.

In the Korean market, Kia recorded 51,002 units, a 13.3 percent increase year over year. The Sorento SUV led the brand’s passenger vehicle sales in its 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, the company’s first three-row seat electric flagship SUV, soon to be rolled out in global markets.

Editor’s note

* Sales results are based on wholesale unless otherwise specified

* Monthly sales figures provided in this release are unaudited and on a preliminary basis that may be subject to future update

* With the change in business results categorization in 2023, special purpose vehicle sales are recorded separately

* Special purpose vehicle includes various specialized vehicles and its figure accounts for sales in Korea and overseas markets