Kia see strength in the numbers

One year on from the peak of the Government’s scrappage scheme and Kia is keeping up its momentum amongst retail customers.

SMMT figures for new car registrations in “60” plate change month, September reveal that Kia have registered a total of 47,523 units so far this year compared to 34,777 units at the same point in 2009, which equates to an impressive 36.6% increase. In addition retail sales (as opposed to fleer sales) for the year to the end of September total 34,054 – up almost 35% compared to the same period last year when a total of 25,283 units had been registered.

Kia’s sales figures for September alone were 15.6% down compared to the same month in 2009 with 8,257 units registered (including 5,104 retail units) but this still saw them move up 2 positions in Septembers Car Makers Premier League (from 17 to 15) and when scrappage sales in last year’s numbers are removed Kia’s performance still remains impressive. Non-scrappage retail sales in September 2009 totalled 2713 units whilst total non-scrappage sales were 4612 units.

Michael Cole, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) Ltd., said: “Our performance over the year has been outstanding and the underlying trend amongst retail customers remains extremely positive.

“Of course our September figures appear to be down but only because we are comparing a normal September to one buoyed by scrappage last year when we recorded our best ever one-month total of 9,778. The reality is that Kia is continuing to grow strongly amongst retail customers thanks to our excellent new product and simple to understand seven year warranty.

“Our year-to-date performance shows we are on track to achieve an outstanding year for the brand in 2010 and that is reflected by the fact that our total market share for the year has grown from 2.29 per cent to 2.91 per cent and amongst retail customers we now command a 4.34 per cent market share,” he added.