In a significant achievement for the electric vehicle (EV) market, Kia UK reached a noteworthy milestone in July 2023, surpassing 50,000 EV sales. This milestone comes after another record-breaking month, securing Kia’s position as the UK’s fourth best-selling brand.
During the month of July, Kia sold a remarkable 9,624 units across all models, marking the brand’s best July performance on record. Among these sales, 1,555 fully electric vehicles were delivered, driving the total number of Kia EVs sold in the UK to an impressive 50,614. The landmark 50,000th Kia EV was none other than the rear-wheel drive EV6 ‘GT-Line S’ in the striking Runway Red color, registered on 27 July at Allen Kia Bath.
Contributing significantly to this milestone was the Niro EV, which ranked as the sixth best-selling EV in the month with 872 sales and a notable 5,929 units sold this year. Following closely behind was the multi award-winning EV6, with an impressive 4,539 units sold year-to-date.
This year alone, Kia has sold 10,698 EVs, accounting for more than a fifth of their total EV sales since their introduction in 2015. The brand’s EV sales experienced a healthy growth, reaching 16,368 in 2022, compared to 2021’s result of 14,337 units sold. This increase in EV sales is a clear indicator of the ever-increasing popularity of Kia’s fully electric range, which currently consists of the EV9, EV6, Niro EV, and Soul EV.
Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK Limited, expressed his delight, stating, “Surpassing 50,000 EV sales in the UK is an important milestone for Kia, as we continue on our journey to having nine EVs by 2027. Our sales success to date is testament to our pioneering EV products and launch strategy, which started eight years ago with the Soul EV and is currently fronted by the award-winning EV6 and highly anticipated EV9. With such a varied range currently and a bright-looking future, we’re proud to be able to support the UK public in making the transition to electric, in collaboration with our nationwide dealer partners.”
In addition to excelling in EV sales, Kia has made a significant impact in the eco car market. Nearly one in every two Kia cars sold is an electrified model, which includes hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles. This year, Kia achieved a record performance by selling 29,222 eco cars, resulting in the brand being ranked as the third best-selling brand for eco models year-to-date, showcasing a remarkable nine percent growth over the previous year.
Taking a closer look at Kia’s EV history, their journey began with the introduction of the Soul EV in April 2015, followed by the second-generation Soul EV, featuring an improved range of 132 miles (NEDC) from its 27kWh battery. Later, the battery capacity was increased to 30kWh in 2017. Subsequently, the e-Niro, Kia’s second globally-sold electric vehicle, was introduced, boasting an impressive range of 282 miles from a single charge (WLTP combined). This model made history by becoming the first-ever fully electric winner of the What Car? Car of the Year award in 2019.
Kia’s EV sales experienced remarkable growth in 2020, with a total of 7,426 fully-electric cars sold. The year 2021 marked the launch of the EV6, featuring a new ‘opposites united’ design direction and cutting-edge technology, including 800V charging capabilities. The EV6’s technology allows for an impressive charging time of just 18 minutes from 10 to 80 percent at the fastest chargers. Notably, the EV6 received critical acclaim by winning both the What Car? Car of the Year and European Car of the Year awards in 2022.
This year, Kia introduced the seven-seat electric SUV, EV9, which also utilizes the E-GMP architecture. Equipped with a powerful 99.8kWh battery, each EV9 model can cover more than 300 miles on a single charge. Like the smaller EV6, the EV9 benefits from the same 800V charging capabilities, enabling a 10-80 percent charge in just 24 minutes at the fastest chargers.
