Kia Motors Corp

Kia, Tata Motors announce price hikes from Jan due to rising input costs

Maruti, Hyundai and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) have already announced to increase prices

Kia India total wholesales increase 17% in September to 23,523 units

Kia India on Tuesday said its total wholesales increased 17 per cent year-on-year to 23,523 units in September. The automaker had dispatched 20,022 units to dealers in September 2023. "Our continuous exceptional sales performance is driven by the overwhelming response from customers during the festive season of Ganesh Chaturthi and Onam," Kia India Senior Vice President and National Head of Sales & Marketing Hardeep Singh Brar said in a statement. The automaker has also prioritised expanding touchpoints, ensuring that mobility solutions are accessible to all customers across the country, he added.

Kia India to increase prices of vehicles by up to 3% from April 1

Kia India on Thursday said it will increase prices of its range of vehicles by up to 3 per cent from April 1, 2024. The decision is attributed to the escalation in commodity prices and supply chain-related inputs, the automaker, which sells models like Seltos, Sonet and Carens, said in a statement. It marks the first price adjustment by the company this year, Kia India said. Commenting on the development, Kia India National Head Sales and Marketing Hardeep Singh Brar said the company consistently strives to deliver premium and technologically advanced products to customers. "However, due to the continuous increase in commodity prices, adverse exchange rate and rising input cost, we are compelled to implement a partial price hike," he added. The company is absorbing a significant portion of the increase, allowing customers to continue driving their favourite Kia cars without a major dent in their pockets, Brar stated. Kia has sold almost 1.16 million units in India and overseas .

Kia recalls 4,358 units of Seltos to replace electronic oil pump controller

Kia India on Friday said it is voluntarily recalling 4,358 units of a petrol variant of its mid-sized sports utility vehicle Seltos to replace the electronic oil pump controller. The company is recalling Smartstream G1.5 Petrol Seltos with IVT transmission, manufactured between February 28 and July 13, 2023, the South Korean automaker said in a statement. The recall has been prompted by a potential error in the electronic oil pump controller, which may impact the performance of the electronic oil pump in the specified transmission variant, it added. The company said it has informed the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) about the voluntary recall initiative. Since the safety of car owners is a top priority, the company is proactively replacing the electronic oil pump controller in the affected units for a seamless ownership experience, the statement said. The automaker will directly reach out to the owners of the vehicles concerned to update them about the voluntary ...

Kia India appoints Gwanggu Lee as MD and CEO, succeeds Tae Jin Park

Kia India on Tuesday said it has appointed Gwanggu Lee as the new Managing Director and CEO with immediate effect. Lee succeeds Tae Jin Park, who retires after a 36-year journey with Kia Corporation including a four year stint with Kia India, the automaker said in a statement. Lee has held leadership positions in various capacities in both developed and developing economies, including roles in the US, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Kia Headquarters in Central and South America, and Kia Europe Headquarters in Germany. His recent role as President at Kia Mexico played a pivotal role in the company's substantial growth and establishment as a production and export hub, the company said. With two segment-breaking updates -- the new Seltos and the new Sonet, and a host of more innovative products on the way, Kia India is surely on the right path to sustainable business growth, Lee stated. "My vision is to unlock the next phase of growth through inspiring Kia brand experiences thereby creating m

Hyundai Creta facelift global debut in Jan, gets new 1.5 L turbo petrol

The new engine will come with the option of a seven-speed DCT or a manual gearbox and returns 160hp

Maruti eyeing bigger pie of global car market, aims to 3X exports by 2030

Maruti Suzuki reported its best-ever exports which reached 259,333 units for the financial year 2022-23

Hyundai, Kia recall 91,000 vehicles in US over damaged electrical component

The models that are likely to be recalled include Hyundai 2023-2024 Palisade, 2023 Tucson, Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles and 2023-2024 Seltos, 2023 Kia Soul, and Sportage

With Kia Seltos facelift in sight, dealers offer discounts to clear stock

To woo customers, dealerships are also offering additional accessories such as floor mats and decorative parts like chrome elements free of cost

Automaker Kia total wholesales increased 3% in May at 24,770 units

Automaker Kia India on Thursday said its total wholesales increased 3 per cent to 24,770 units in May. The company undertook a plant maintenance shutdown from May 15-20. It had dispatched 24,079 units to dealers in May 2022. While the overall domestic sales stood at 18,766 units, exports accounted for 6,004 units in May 2023. Sonet sales stood at 8,251 units last month, while Seltos and Carens dispatches stood at 4,065 and 6,367 units, respectively. The company also reported sales of 83 units of its electric offering EV6. "Although we faced some production limitations due to our plant annual maintenance shutdown for a week in May which impacted our numbers, we are confident of strong performance in coming months," Kia India National Head (Sales & Marketing) Hardeep Singh Brar said in a statement. The company is witnessing a growing demand for the iMT range, he added. "This month, iMT has contributed 38 per cent of our total sales," Brar said.

Kia Seltos facelift spotted in X Line variant, check design updates

Speaking of the exterior styling, the new Seltos is likely to get a redesigned grille up front, a new set of LED headlights with a split treatment along with a new bumper

Kia India exports cross 200,000 unit mark in FY23, robust demand continues

Automaker Kia India on Wednesday said it crossed 2 lakh export milestone in FY23 and continues to see robust demand from various regions like the Middle East and Mexico. The company said it has shipped cars to around 95 countries till date. Kia said Seltos remains the top contributor to Kia's export numbers, with 1,35,885 units dispatched to over 95 countries. The automaker reported 22 per cent growth in exports in March quarter 2023 as compared the same period last year, it added. We are proud to showcase the manufacturing prowess of our next-gen Anantapur facility to the world by making, innovating, and investing in India and contributing to the government's vision, Kia India Chief Sales & Business Officer Myung-sik Sohn said in a statement. This also showcases how India, as a manufacturing hub, is ready to cater to the growing demand for SUVs globally, he added. Kia India said it continues to witness robust demand for Seltos, Sonet and Carens in overseas markets like the Middl

Kia to open bookings for 2023 version EV6 priced Rs 60.95 lakh from Apr 15

Kia India on Wednesday announced opening the bookings for the 2023 version of its electric vehicle EV6 from April 15. The 2023 EV6 will be available in two variants -- GT Line and GT Line AWD at an ex-showroom price of Rs 60.95 lakh and Rs. 65.95 lakh respectively, the company said in a statement. "For this year, we are focussing on importing more products to cater to the audiences who couldn't get their hands on the premium car last year by expanding our dealer network," Kia India MD & CEO Tae-Jin Park said. The company, which had sold 432 units of EV6 in 2022, further said it plans to expand the 150 kW high-speed charger network from the existing 15 dealerships to all 60 outlets. * ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Tata Motors appoints Inchcape as commercial vehicles distributor in Thailand * Tata Motors on Wednesday announced a partnership with Inchcape plc for distribution of its commercial vehicles in Thailand. Inchcape comes with a rich experience, expertise and strong understanding of

No new launches in 2023; Kia India to consolidate gains: VP Hardeep Singh

The South Korean carmaker has launched five new cars in the last three years

Kia India records 94.7% rise in domestic sales at 15,184 units in Dec

Automaker Kia India on Monday reported a 94.7 per cent increase in domestic sales at 15,184 units in December. The company had sold 7,797 units in the year-ago period. In the calendar year 2022, the company said it witnessed a growth of 47.7 per cent with cumulative sales of 3,36,619 units. Its sales in 2021 stood at 2,27,844 units. Domestic sales also grew by 40.1 per cent to 2,54,556 units as against 1,81,583 units in 2021, while exports stood at 82,063 units in 2022. "Despite various headwinds like geopolitical issues, Covid-induced supply chain obstructions and price increase, we managed to register the highest sales ever for the brand in the country," Kia India VP and Head - Sales & Marketing Hardeep Singh Brar said in a statement. Kia India said its cumulative sales have crossed the 8-lakh milestone in 41 months since starting mass production in August 2019.

Kia India to offer 6 airbags as standard fitment in mid-sized SUV Seltos

Kia India on Wednesday said it will offer six airbags as standard fitment in its mid-sized SUV Seltos. The decision to provide six airbags on all the trims of the model is in line with the increased focus on safety, it added. The South Korean automaker already offers six airbags as standard fitment in its model Carens. "It is our constant effort to update our products at regular intervals, basis our market research and understanding of the ever-evolving demands of customers," Kia India Vice President and Head of Sales & Marketing Hardeep Singh Brar said in a statement. India is an important market for Kia globally, and Seltos is a very important product, he added. Seltos accounts for close to 60 per of the company's total sales in the country. The government has proposed to make it mandatory for carmakers to provide a minimum of six airbags in motor vehicles that can carry up to eight passengers for enhanced safety of occupants from October 1. An airbag is a vehicle ...

Kia India records highest-ever monthly sales of 24,024 units in June

Kia India on Friday reported its highest ever monthly wholesales at 24,024 units in June, registering 60 per cent jump over the year-ago period. The automaker had dispatched 15,015 units to dealers in June 2021. The company said it has crossed the one lakh sales mark in the first six months of 2022, dispatching 1,21,808 units in the domestic market. In June, Seltos and Carens remained the top contributors to Kia's overall sales with 8,388 and 7,895 units, respectively. Sonet and Carnival contributed 7,455 and 285 units. "The immense love we are getting from the people of India is the result of the strong foundation of Kia in the country, backed by extensive research and customer-centricity. "Despite the global supply chain constraints, we are still managing to achieve milestones in record time," Kia India Vice President & Head of Sales and Marketing Hardeep Singh Brar said in a statement. The company is well aware of the growing waiting period on model range and it is taking ...

Take note, Elon Musk: this company is quietly dominating the EV race

Tesla still sells far more cars, but it took firm a decade to deliver as many electric vehicles as Hyundai and Kia have managed in a few short months

Kia Sonet surpasses cumulative sales milestone of 150,000 units in 2 years

Automaker Kia India on Monday said its compact SUV Kia Sonet has crossed the cumulative sales milestone of 1.5 lakh units since launch in September 2020. The model has contributed over 32 per cent of the company's total sales and commands almost 15 per cent share in the highly competitive compact SUV category, Kia India said in a statement. "The Sonet has won several accolades not only for its design, performance, and practicality but also by creating favourability for iMT (intelligent manual transmission) and introducing the only Diesel AT in the segment," Kia India Chief Sales Officer Myung-sik Sohn said. In April this year, he said, "We added four airbags as standard across even the lower variants of Sonet, further enhancing the vehicle's safety and propelling its popularity." Kia India said the top variants of the model contributed to 26 per cent of its overall sales, while 22 per cent of buyers preferred automatic transmission and diesel powertrain accounted for 41 per cent of

Kia India forays into EV segment, drives in EV6 priced at Rs 59.95 lakh

Kia India on Thursday forayed into the electric vehicle segment in the country with the launch of EV6, priced at Rs 59.95 lakh (ex-showroom).