• May global sales at 268,593 units, up 14.4% y/y
• Outside of Korea, Kia sold 217,772 units, up 15.2% y/y
• In Korea, Kia sold 50,275 units, up 10.3% y/y
• Kia SUV models lead company’s strong sales, with the new EV9 all-electric SUV to also add further momentum
• Kia to accelerate its electrification efforts and its transition into a sustainable mobility solutions provider

Kia Corporation announced total global sales of 268,593 units in May 2023, a 14.4 percent increase year over year, thanks to strong demand for Kia’s vehicles.

Excluding special purpose vehicle sales, outside of Korea, sales were up 15.2 percent from a year earlier to 217,772 units. In the Korean market, Kia recorded sales of 50,275 units, a 10.3 percent increase year over year.

Kia SUV models led the company’s strong sales momentum with the Sportage and Seltos SUV models each selling 45,959 units and 25,345 units in May. The Sorento SUV followed with almost 20,909 units.

Sales outside of Korea

Kia sales outside of Korea increased 15.2 percent compared to the same month last year, with 217,772 units sold.

In markets outside of Korea, the Sportage SUV led the sales momentum with 39,774 units sold. The Sportage was followed by the Seltos SUV, which sold 20,553 units and the K3 (also known as Forte outside of Korea), which sold 15,483 units.

Korea sales

In May, Kia sold 50,275 units in the Korean market, which is a 10.3 percent increase from the same period last year.

The Carnival MPV led the brand’s passenger vehicle sales in its home market, with sales of 6,695 units. The Sorento and Sportage SUV followed with sales of 6,499 units and 6,185 units each.

Future steps

Kia expects the global parts shortage situation to gradually improve and aims to focus on expanding sales of electrified vehicles and SUV models and enhancing profitability.

In April 2023, Kia held its annual CEO Investor Day event in Seoul and presented the brand’s mid-to long-term business strategy with a focus on electrification. Kia’s updated 2030 annual sales target is 4.3 million units, of which 1.6 million units will be all-electric vehicles. The company will continue to accelerate its electrification efforts and its transition into a sustainable mobility solutions provider by introducing innovative mobility products and services.

The company will continue to expand sales of its all-electric EV6, a model that was hailed as the 2023 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year in January. Kia will also build on EV sales momentum through the introduction of the new EV9, the company’s first three-row seat electric flagship SUV, which will soon roll out in the market.

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