Kia India Achieves 10 Lakh Unit Domestic Sales Milestone in India, Seltos SUV Drives the Growth
Kia India has accomplished a noteworthy feat by selling 10 lakh units within the country. The milestone is largely attributed to the Kia Seltos, which accounts for more than 48% of all domestic sales.
By Reetika Bhatt
Kia India has accomplished a noteworthy feat by selling 10 lakh units within the country. The achievement comes 5 years after the company started operations in India. This success is largely attributed to the midsize SUV Kia Seltos, which accounts for more than 48% of all domestic sales. The Sonet and Carens models, which come after the Seltos, make up 34% and 16% of Kia India's total dispatches, respectively. Since its launch in 2019, the brand has profited from steadily growing both its dealer network and range of products. With 42% of its sales coming from premium trims, the brand has also contested the idea that India only has price-sensitive buyers. Furthermore, the South Korean automaker has been instrumental in promoting the use of automatic transmissions.
The three automatic gearbox options offered by the South Korean automaker – the six-speed AT, the seven-speed DCT, and the IVT – combine to account for 32% of its total sales. With the release of the Sonet in 2020, Kia debuted the iMT (Intelligent Manual Transmission), which currently accounts for 15% of the brand's local dispatches. Currently, the company's sales ratio for petrol to diesel is 59% to 41%.
Also Read: Sonet, Seltos, Carens and More Assist Kia India Record 2.5% Year-on-Year Sales Growth in July
Kia India Comments
Commenting on the milestone, Joonsu Cho, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, said, 'We have been achieving milestones constantly since our launch in record time. These milestones become even more important when you face diversity at every step of this country and competition from legacy players with more than a decade of experience. Achieving 1 million domestic sales is a testament to our continued focus on the Indian market and the need gap of the Indian customers. My heartfelt thanks to all our customers who have shown trust in our brand and made us one of the most loved carmakers in the country.'
'Kia is synonymous with innovation. With our latest technology, design, and in-car features, we constantly challenge established practices, not only in India but globally as well. We will soon launch our global flagships in India this year, followed by a home-grown new model, which will prove the above claim. India is a thriving ground for automotive companies, and with our innovative and aspirational products and services, we are sure to be one of the major catalysts to the growth of the Indian Automotive Industry,' he added.
Kia India Sales So Far
Kia India started with 45,226 units sold annually in 2019; over the following years, the company saw significant growth, hitting over 1.40 lakh units in 2020, more than 1.81 lakh units in 2021, and about 2.55 lakh units in 2022. Kia increased its market share in 2023 when its yearly sales reached 2.55 lakh units. In the first seven months of 2024, Kia sold close to 1.50 lakh cars in the Indian market.
Kia has developed a vast network spanning 256 cities with 588 touchpoints. Furthermore, it has shipped more than 2.60 lakh units to over 100 other markets, making it an indispensable export hub for the company outside of its home market. When local and international dispatches are combined, the total sales are about 13 lakh units.
