Kia Europe Reports Best-Ever First-Half Sales

Driven by hot sales of its Sportage compact SUV and Cee’d family of compact sedans and hatches, Kia Motors Europe records its best-ever 6-month sales result.

The Korean automaker says its European operation sold 200,038 vehicles in the January-June period, a year-on-year rise of 7.6%. The second quarter saw sales top 100,000 for the first time in any 3-month period, with 103,946 vehicles sold in the April-June period.

Michael Cole, chief operating officer of Kia Motors Europe, says 2015 “to date has been a great period for Kia in Europe, with sales records tumbling and new highs reached.

‟We’re delighted that Kia continues to grow, consistently and sustainably, and that an increasing number of motorists are drawn to our range of high-quality, high-value cars.”

The Kia Sportage CUV and Cee’d family of compact vehicles provided most of the momentum.

The ’15 Sportage sold 56,002 units in the first six months, a rise of 12% over like-2014. It saw its best-ever 3-month result in the second quarter, selling 28,208 vehicles.

The Cee’d family was the second-highest volume performer, registering 40,000 sales in January-June.

First produced at Kia’s Zilina, Slovakia plant in 2006, the Cee’d broke the 1 million sales mark earlier this year.

The subcompact Kia Soul, not a volume vehicle for the automaker in Europe, saw a 112% year-over-year sales gain in the first half, selling 7,042 units.

Kia is expected to sustain its momentum with the release of ’16 models, including a new Sportage and revised Cee’d family. Those vehicles are in Kia’s lineup for the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Kia says the new Cee’d models will go on sale in the U.K. and Europe in October.