ANN/THE KOREA HERALD – Kia is showing signs of recovery in China, achieving over 20,000 units in monthly sales for three consecutive months from June to August.
If the trend continues, the company is on course to meet or exceed its target of selling more than 200,000 units in China by year-end.
The growth is largely attributed to the launch of new, market-specific models and the expansion of export operations.
According to Kia’s Chinese joint venture, Jiangsu Yueda Kia, the company sold 22,498 vehicles in August, reflecting a 36.2-per-cent increase from the same period last year. This is the highest monthly sales figure so far this year. From January to August, Kia’s total sales in China, including exports, reached 154,243 units, a 61.3-per-cent rise from the same period in 2023.
The surge has positioned Kia as the top-selling brand among joint venture automakers in China.
At the current pace, Kia expects its total sales in China to exceed 230,000 units by the end of the year, a return to the 200,000-unit threshold for the first time since 2020.
A critical factor behind Kia’s success is the introduction of new vehicles tailored to the Chinese market.
The company launched the EV5, a mid-size electric sport utility vehicle, for the first time in China in late 2022. This was followed by the release of the new K3, a refreshed version of its mid-size sedan, in 2023. Sales of the EV5 have been promising, with nearly 6,000 units sold between January and July.
Kia has also found success with its updated 2025 K5 sedan, which has been redesigned to be more competitive in the market. The 2025 K5 is priced up to CNY23,000 (approximately USD3,200) less than the previous model, making it more accessible to a broader range of consumers.
By offering both high-end and entry-level versions, Kia has enhanced the appeal of the K5, driving higher demand.
Kia’s rebound in China is not solely driven by domestic sales.
The company has also capitalised on the growing role of its Yancheng plant as an export base. As of August, the plant had exported more than 300,000 vehicles, helping Kia achieve the highest export volume among joint venture automakers in China.
