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Car Makers Premier League – March 2009


March’s Car Makers Premier League (based on the SMMT figures for UK new car registrations in March 2009) show a lot of movement based on varying degrees of bad news. Unlike February which saw Mazda, Toyota and Hyundai notch up positive increases year-on-year (with Mazda increasing sales by a staggering 32%) all the car makers featured in the league for March showed a decrease in registrations. The big “winner” is Kia which is welcomed back (after being relegated last month) at the top spot and rather like Liverpool at the moment, can be regarded as the “comeback kings” having shifted 6346 units, just 2% down on last year. We also welcome back Land Rover who’s registrations for March have brought them back into the top 20 at number 17 albeit a whopping 37% down on March 2008. This month we have said goodbye to Volvo and Skoda who have been relegated because their March registration figures have taken them out of the top 20.

Although February was all about good news for Japanese and Korean manufacturers this month it’s the turn of the Germans with Audi, VW and BMW all improving on last month’s standings and Audi especially, going from 10th last month to 3rd in March with a comparatively respectable 10% drop in registrations year-on-year. Mid table mediocrity for Seat as they stay in 9th position with a 26% drop and Vauxhall, despite registering a mind boggling 17008 fewer cars than March last year move up from 14th to 10th (obviously taking advantage of worse performing manufacturers in plate change month). Lastly, rooted at the foot of the table remains Renault with a disastrous 53% drop in sales.

Can Kia maintain their new lofty position next month? Will Renault get out of the drop zone? Both scenarios would seem doubtful but who predicted Mazda’s amazing February performance? It certainly is a funny old game!

POSManufacturerMar 2008Mar 2009Diff%
164966346(150)(2)
265036218(285)(4)
31809416250(1844)(10)
472135778(1435)(20)
56767652289(15387)(23)
63228524440(7845)(24)
71617912231(3948)(24)
8103557734(2621)(25)
968815069(1812)(26)
105700840000(17008)(30)
112275515654(7101)(31)
122276015624(7136)(31)
132554517412(8133)(32)
1488585976(2882)(33)
15119088001(3907)(33)
161680510755(6050)(36)
1795766027(3549)(37)
182186213005(8857)(41)
19166738788(7885)(47)
202176910227(11542)(53)

This months Car Maker in Focus is….

Kia Motors

Kia Motors, a subsidiary of Hyundai Kia Automotive Group formed after the 1998 merger with Hyundai, is South Korea’s 2nd largest automobile manufacturer with headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. The American arm is Kia Motors America. On October 20, 2006, Kia Motors America formally hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its first US assembly plant in West Point, Georgia, at an initial cost of over $1 billion. Since 2005, Kia has started to focus on the European market and is currently the UK’s fastest growing car company, voted Automotive Manufacturuer of the year in 2009 by Autocar Magazine, and had various other successes in the European market.

South Korea’s oldest car company, Kia was founded in 1944 as manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycles. In 1952, Kia changed its name from Kyungsung Precision Industry, and later built motorcycles, trucks and cars. Starting in 1986, in partnership with Ford, Kia produced several Mazda derived vehicles for both domestic sales in South Korea and exports into other countries. These models include the Pride (based on the Mazda 121) and Avella, which were sold in North America and Australasia as the Ford Festiva and Ford Aspire.

In 1992, Kia Motors America was incorporated in the United States. The first Kia-branded vehicles in the United States were sold from four dealerships in Portland, Oregon in February 1994. Since then, Kia expanded methodically one region at a time. Dealers in 1994 sold the Sephia, and a few years later the United States line expanded with the addition of the Sportage.

However, Kia’s bankruptcy in 1997, part of the Asian financial crisis, resulted in the company being acquired in 1998 by South Korean rival Hyundai Motor Company, outbidding Ford Motor Company which had owned an interest in Kia Motors since 1986.

In the UK Kia currently have the following models in their product range;

Compact:
Picanto
Rio
Soul

Mid sized:
Cee’d
Magentis

MPV:
Carens
Sedona

SUV:
Sportage
Sorento

Source: WikiPedia

Kia UK

Apr 6, 2009In51der
  • Car Makers Premier League – March 2010
  • Car Makers Premier League – February 2010
  • Car Makers Premier League – November 2009
  • Car Makers Premier League – August 2009
  • Car Makers Premier League – July 2009
  • Car Makers Premier League – February 2009
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    Comments: 9
    1. steve walsh
      12 years ago

      Good stuff,still wouldnt be seen dead in one though!!!

    2. Mad Max
      12 years ago

      Clearly you’ve never looked at one!

    3. Cameron
      12 years ago

      I can’t believe that anyone would buy a Kia, every one that I’ve driven has felt like a driving a wheelie bin powered by a lawn mower engine in comparison to the competition. Still at least they look awful.

    4. Mad Max
      12 years ago

      Obviously both Cameron & Steve talk twaddle and know nothing.

    5. Car Bloke
      12 years ago

      Accpeted that this is the opinion of Cameron and Steve, but I have to agree with ‘Mad Max’.

      I have a used Kia cee’d which I bought last month – the build quality is excellent, I get 60 mpg, it was priced well and had a 7 year warranty – and this on a used car. Kia must be confident in thier cars as NO other car maker offered this. I had a ford Focus before and in my opinion it was a bag of rubbish and only got a 1 year warranty! Anyway, i think anyone who tries a Kia WILL be impressed with todays models.

    6. admin
      12 years ago

      We don’t usually like to intervine in these discussions (too much) but think it might be worth pointing out that “car bloke” may very well drive a Kia and, indeed be very happy with his car but his positive comments may also have something to do with where he works (no prizes for guessing!)

    7. ann
      12 years ago

      Don’t know much about Kia, but have seen the new Kia Soul on the tele and think it looks like great!

    8. Cameron
      12 years ago

      The problem is that its difficult for any fan of the German car feel to see past the low grade plastics used inside Kia’s. Yes they can look up-to-date but still feel cheap. Agreed they do the job, are reliable and at a glance look good but anyone who’s spent time with both know they are still pretenders compared with their Tuetonic counterparts. We’ve all been seduced by the Primark jacket but as always it all comes out in the wash.

    9. Car Bloke
      11 years ago

      That’s the good thing about opinions – they cant be wrong. And I agree, some of the German product is excellent! However, Kia are offering a sensible priced alternative with better warranties and, as you said (Cameron), they look up to date. The car Ann refers to (The Soul) is certainly ground breaking (As many car magazines have said) so Kia really making big inroads, continually.

      Guess we will have to have different opinions Cameron. Good, feedback though – thanks.

      I will continue to enjoy my used Kia – which is built well, drives brilliant, has 7 years of warranty and gives me 60mpg!

    In51der

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