IRVINE, California - Kia Motors America has reported record sales for 2012 of 557 599 vehicles, a 14.9% increase on 2011 - the automaker's previous best year.
Kia is one of the fastest-growing automakers in the US (over the previous five years) and its December 2012 sales of 39 178 units helped to extend the brand's streak of annual market share increases to 18 years.
KMA's sales were led throughout 2012 by the US-built Optima and that trend continued as the December total of 12 008 helped the popular midsize sedan become the first Kia model to top 150 000 annual sales.
'WORLD CLASS DESIGN'
Together with the Sorento SUV – also assembled in the US – Kia’s US-built vehicles represented more than 40% of 2012's record-setting volume.
Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA, said: "Kia is advancing value to new levels of sophistication by combining world-class automotive design, cutting-edge technologies and premium amenities with affordable pricing.
"The brand’s maturation process will continue through 2012 with seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles scheduled to arrive in our showrooms through 2013."
Kia is one of the fastest-growing automakers in the US (over the previous five years) and its December 2012 sales of 39 178 units helped to extend the brand's streak of annual market share increases to 18 years.
KMA's sales were led throughout 2012 by the US-built Optima and that trend continued as the December total of 12 008 helped the popular midsize sedan become the first Kia model to top 150 000 annual sales.
'WORLD CLASS DESIGN'
Together with the Sorento SUV – also assembled in the US – Kia’s US-built vehicles represented more than 40% of 2012's record-setting volume.
Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA, said: "Kia is advancing value to new levels of sophistication by combining world-class automotive design, cutting-edge technologies and premium amenities with affordable pricing.
"The brand’s maturation process will continue through 2012 with seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles scheduled to arrive in our showrooms through 2013."