UK SALES - KIA - Another record year for Kia, with a number of models showing gains.

• 77,525 sales in 2014 sets new record
• Retail sales up by more than 10 per cent
• Sportage, cee’d, Picanto and Rio continue to climb

Kia ended 2014 in the UK new car market with yet another record performance – delivering 77,525 cars to customers during the year.

Kia’s total sales included 21,575 Sportage, 15,385 Picanto, 13,189 cee’d and 12,231 Rio deliveries – all reaching new sales totals. The top five performers list was completed by 5,806 Venga deliveries. Kia’s total market share of 3.13 per cent maintained its position as one of the leading volume sector brands and the retail performance was particularly strong with a 3.52 per cent share – representing sales of 41,545 vehicles.

Paul Philpott, President and Chief Executive of Kia Motors (UK) Limited commented: “the UK new car market has performed well in 2014 with premium products and light commercials doing particularly well – so to maintain our momentum is both heartening and encouraging for our dealer network – who have been busy investing in better facilities and services for our growing army of customers.

“With only one all-new product unveiled in 2014, the new Kia Soul, the year could have proved difficult but the energy and enthusiasm of everyone connected with the brand and on the on-going design appeal of our products coupled with a strong consumer appeal has meant we have continued our growth. 

Looking forward we launch our all-new Sorento in April, we have major enhancements to our core Picanto and Rio ranges plus an update of Venga. Later in the year we will see exciting developments in the cee’d range and an all-new Optima, so I am confident that our growth will continue,” he added.

Kia’s 2014 total sales of 77,525 was up 7.54 per cent on the 2013 total of 72,090 and is up by more than 50 per cent since the height of the scrappage scheme in 2009 when the brand passed the 50,000 unit mark for the first time.

The retail sales total of 41,545 was up by more than 10 per cent over the 2013 total of 37,643 and Kia’s performance in the fleet sector was also up – with 35,980 vehicles sold – an increase of 4.5 per cent over the 34,447 units delivered in 2014.