Kia is a relatively new brand in Europe, struggling to increase its market share. In 2019 it managed to do so, enjoying record sales. Kia Motors has achieved annual sales of more than half a million cars in Europe for the first time.
Kia’s total annual sales of 502,845 units in Europe represents a sales increase of +1.7 per cent, and the brand’s 11th consecutive year of growth. Last year the brand also achieved an all-time-high 3.2 per cent market share across European Union and European Free Trade Area countries.
The growth in sales has been boosted by increased customer interest in Kia’s expanding range of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as sales success from the recent introduction of new and renewed models, such as the Ceed and Stonic.
Increasing customer interest in advanced powertrains brought added momentum to Kia’s success last year. Sales of the brand’s hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully-electric cars increased from 58,029 to 66,386 units (+14.4 per cent) in 2019.
The Niro range, incorporating hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully-electric variants, remained the brand’s best-selling electrified model line, with sales totalling 57,519 units (+27.1 per cent compared to 2018). The Niro Hybrid accounted for 37,475 units (+8.2 per cent), with additional growth from the Niro Plug-in Hybrid (10,144 units, +1.9 per cent) and the new fully-electric e-Niro (9,900 units).
With the new fully-electric Soul EV also on sale in selected markets towards the end of the year, total sales of Kia electric vehicles almost doubled, from 7,064 in 2018 to 13,132 units in 2019 (+85.9 per cent). The Optima Plug-in Hybrid range, available in saloon and Sportswagon variants, also saw sales improvement, with 5,635 units sold last year (+23.2 per cent).
2019 saw the Ceed model family become Kia’s bestselling product across the EU and EFTA, with registrations totalling 110,201 units – a year-on-year upturn of 46.0 per cent. The brand’s previous best-seller, the Kia Sportage, was a close second, recording strong sales of 109,838 units through the year.
