Kia America announced robust sales figures for December 2023, with a total of 60,275 vehicles sold in the United States, maintaining parity with the same period in 2022. The year 2023 marked a record-setting performance for Kia, as the company achieved an annual sales figure of 782,451 vehicles, reflecting a noteworthy 12.8% year-over-year increase.
The highlight of Kia’s December sales was the positive reception of its all-electric cars, particularly the newly launched Kia EV9 SUV.
See also: Kia EV6 GT Challenges BMW M2 in Quarter-Mile Drag Race and Handling Test
In December, Kia’s electric vehicles (EVs) based on the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) recorded a substantial uptick, totaling 2,362 units. This marked a significant 113% increase compared to the same period in the previous year and accounted for 3.9% of the brand’s total volume.
The specific breakdown of Kia’s EV sales in December included 1,249 units of the EV6 (a 13% increase year-over-year) and 1,113 units of the recently introduced EV9 during its first full month on the market. Additionally, a certain number of Kia Niro EVs were sold, but the exact data is not yet available, as it is combined with the internal combustion engine version.
See also: Kia EV9 Electric SUV Earns Five Star Euro NCAP Crash Test
Kia’s E-GMP-based EV sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 reached 5,199 units, reflecting a substantial 77% year-over-year increase and constituting 2.9% of the total volume during that period.
Throughout 2023, Kia successfully sold over 18,800 units of the EV6 in the U.S., experiencing an 8% decline compared to the previous year, partly attributed to market challenges. With over 1,100 units of the EV9 and an estimated 11-12 thousand Niro EVs, Kia likely exceeded 30,000 electric vehicle sales in 2023, representing around 4% of the brand’s total volume.
Kia anticipates a clearer picture of its electric vehicle market presence in 2024, particularly with the commencement of local production of the Kia EV9 in the United States at West Point, Georgia.
See also: Kia’s EV6 Set for Revamp, Drawing Inspiration from Flagship EV9 in Design Updates
Seungkyu (Sean) Yoon, president and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America, expressed optimism about the brand’s trajectory, stating, “Kia is clearly a brand on the move,” and highlighted the company’s commitment to growth in 2024 with the introduction of six all-new and significantly redesigned products.
