Kia has came to India 5 years back and touched a milestone of 1 million units.
Kia India has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing one million units in wholesale figures within the domestic market. This remarkable feat was accomplished in June 2024, less than six years after the Korean carmaker entered the Indian automotive market. Since August 2019, Kia India has accumulated a total of 10,23,515 units in sales, showcasing its rapid growth and strong market presence.
Key Highlights:
- Kia India surpasses 1 million units in wholesale sales by June 2024.
- Seltos remains the highest-selling model with nearly 5 lakh units sold.
- Sonet outsold Seltos for seven consecutive months in 2024.
- Carens, launched in 2022, contributes 16% to total sales with 1.67 lakh units.
- Kia India to launch EV9 SUV later this year, expanding its EV lineup.
Kia India Milestone Overview
| Financial year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seltos | 81,717 | 89,173 | 95,929 | 1,00,132 | 1,00,423 | 25,123 |
| Sonet | - | 63,717 | 73,864 | 94,096 | 81,384 | 34,609 |
| Carnival | 3,187 | 2,796 | 4,302 | 4,257 | - | - |
| Carrens | - | - | 12,692 | 70,314 | 63,167 | 21,477 |
| EV6 | - | - | - | 430 | 660 | 66 |
Rapid Growth in a Short Span
Kia India commenced its operations in August 2019 and has quickly become a prominent player in the Indian automotive sector. The company first broke the 6 lakh-unit mark in November 2022 and then swiftly moved past the 7 lakh-unit milestone by April 2023. The journey from 7 lakh to a million units took just 13 months, reflecting Kia’s strong market strategy and consumer appeal.
Model-Wise Sales Contribution
Kia India’s portfolio in India includes the Seltos, Sonet, Carens, and EV6. The Seltos, launched as the brand’s debut model in August 2019, has been the company’s flagship product with cumulative sales of 4,92,497 units, accounting for nearly 48% of the total sales. The Sonet, which follows closely, has contributed 34% with 3,47,670 units sold.
Interestingly, the Sonet has been outselling the Seltos in 2024, particularly in the first seven months, where it registered 63,991 units, significantly higher than the Seltos’ 45,691 units.
The Carens, which was introduced in February 2022, has also made a substantial impact with 1,67,650 units sold, representing a 16% share of Kia’s total sales. The EV6, Kia’s first electric vehicle in India, has sold 1,156 units since its launch in June 2022. The EV6 will soon be joined by the EV9, marking the company’s further expansion into the electric vehicle market.
Future Outlook and Exports
Kia India not only focuses on the domestic market but also has a strong export strategy. As of July 2024, the company has shipped 2,58,339 units overseas, bringing the total cumulative production to 1.26 million units.
Looking forward, Kia India is set to introduce two new global models, the EV9 and the Carnival MPV, in the Indian market in the latter half of this year. The Carnival will initially be imported, with local assembly to follow.
Kia India’s rapid growth, robust model lineup, and upcoming launches signify a promising future for the brand in the Indian automotive market.
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