7:13 am, January 7, 2011
KIA has smashed its sales records and increased its UK market share, 2010 sales figures reveal.
56,114 Kias were sold in the UK in 2010 and the firm increased its market share of almost 2.8 per cent.
The Picanto city car found 16,451 new homes during the year, with the cee’d range recording 13,408 sales. The company’s top five was completed by old and new Sportage with sales of 5,618, the new Venga with 3,796 units sold and 3,704 Sorento models registered.
Sales director Yaser Shabsogh said: ‘2010 has been another astounding year for Kia and its dealers – despite the ending of the Government-backed scrappage scheme in the spring. It is clear that good value and quality products have bucked the trend and that has allowed us to pass 2009’s record total of 50,636 vehicle by a very strong margin.
‘Increasing our total sales volume by 11 per cent compared to 2009 is astounding in itself, but to do that when the overall UK market is only up by nearly two per cent is even more remarkable.’
Michael Cole, managing director of Kia Motors (UK) said: ‘During 2011 we have another three all-new models due to arrive in showrooms – all benefiting from our new design-led DNA and that unmatchable warranty.
‘Although we don’t expect quite the same rate of growth in the year ahead we are confident that Kia will continue to challenge the mainstream brands and I am certain that we will be looking at a new record total this time next year.
