Kia India: Facts & Figures

[Nairrk]

Kia India sets up 240kWh DC fast charger in Kochi

Kia India inaugurated a 240kWh DC fast charger for electric passenger vehicles at its Kochi dealership. Kia customers can access the fast-charger just by paying per usage.

The company says it will also accommodate the charging needs of EVs from other OEMs at these fast-charging stations. Further building on the recent launch of Gurgaon’s fastest 150kWh charger for passenger cars in July 2022, this is an additional initiative.

Myung-Sik Sohn, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India said, “We are in the process of setting up more charging stations at our EV dealerships across the country, ensuring superior customer experience and reducing the issue of charging time and range anxiety that usually follows EV customers.”

The Korean automaker recently launched its first fully electric car the Kia EV6 in India, which is based on the electric-global modular platform (E-GMP) and features Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy. Kia EV6 offers a claimed range of 528km on a full charge. The EV6 can be charged 10-80 percent in as little as 18 minutes using a 350 kW charger.
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[Nairrk]

Kia India enters used Car business with ‘Kia CPO’, first customers of these 14 cities will be able to buy the car

Kia India in Used car Business: Automobile company Kia India has entered into the business of certified old vehicles (second hand). To increase the business, the company has planned to open 30 sales centers by the end of this year. Kia said in a statement on Tuesday that its certified old car ie 'second hand' vehicle business 'Kia CPO' (KIA CPO) aims to provide a different experience to customers. According to language news, it will be like buying a new car. Under this, they will have the facility to sell or buy old vehicles and get another vehicle by changing the old car. Customers will also get the facility of ownership transfer and loan for this.

Trying to change customer perception
According to the news, Myung-Sik Son, Chief Sales Officer (Chief Sales Officer) of Kia India said that we want to give a new look to the system for the used car market with Kia CPO. Currently, Indian customers have limited access to accurate and verified information on used vehicles. We want to change this perception. He said that we have noticed that one-third of the customers of Kia's new car are those who are willing to take the company's car instead of the old vehicle. Our aim is to help them through this new business of ours.

KIA first opened sales center in these 14 cities

Kia said that it plans to aggressively pursue the used car business (Kia India in Used car). For this, the company will open 30 sales centers by the end of the year. The company has already opened 15 sales centers in 14 cities - National Capital Region Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Cochin, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Amritsar, Nashik, Baroda, Kannur and Malappuram.

Many big companies are also in this business
In the second hand car market, big companies like Maruti Suzuki by the name of True Value, Mahindra & Mahindra by the name of Mahindra First Choice, Hyundai Motor by the name of Hyundai Promise are already present in the market. The second hand car market in India (Kia India second hand car market) is also huge. These companies are providing better platforms to the customers for better such cars.

Zeebiz

 

[Nairrk]

Kia India achieves 1 million production milestone within four years: Seltos best-selling SUV

Kia India has rolled out the 1 millionth vehicle, the new Seltos facelift, from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located at Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. The Indian subsidiary of this South Korean carmaker achieved the 1 million production milestone within four years of commencing its operations which makes Kia the fastest carmaker in India to achieve this landmark.

Kia made its entry into the Indian market with the launch of the Seltos mid-size SUV in August 2019 and it set the sales chart on fire. The Seltos became one of India’s best-selling SUVs and over 5 lakh units were sold in a record time of 46 months. Kia India’s portfolio also includes the Sonet sub-compact SUV, Carens MPV, Carnival premium MPV (now discontinued) and EV6 luxury electric crossover.

The company’s 1 millionth vehicle to be rolled out from the Anantapur facility is a brand new Kia Seltos facelift. It marks the production commencement of the facelifted Kia Seltos which recently made its India debut and its prices will be announced next month. The ceremony was graced by the presence of esteemed guests from the Government of Andhra Pradesh and Kia’s official dignitaries.

Unveiling the 1 millionth car, Tae-Jin Park, Managing Director and CEO, Kia India, said, “This is a big moment for us, our employees, and our partners who have lived and supported our journey and helped us in making Kia an integral part of Indian consumer’s lives today. We are extremely grateful for their support and the love of our customers. We will remain dedicated to driving innovation, pushing boundaries, and shaping the future of mobility in India.”

Financial Express

 

[350Z]

Kia India has unveiled K-Charge, an initiative in the 'MyKia' app that allows users to discover over 1,000 EV charging stations nationwide. Kia is also extending access to this charging network to non-Kia customers.

• Kia has collaborated with 5 charging point operators: Statiq, ChargeZone, Relux Electric, Lion Charge, and E-Fill charging operators to enable this initiative.
• Kia has also partnered with Relux Electric to offer its customers 3 months of free charging through their charging stations. Integrating these CPOs on the 'MyKia' app is done by NumoCity Technologies.
• The users can view and locate the charging station through an interactive map by MapMyIndia, check availability of charging slots, locate one based on preferences and pay through wallet within the app.
• Through 'EV for All' vision, which encompasses the K-Charge initiative, Kia aims to achieve annual sales target of one million EVs by 2026 and expand that to 1.6 million units annually by 2030.
• The company has scheduled to launch various long-range BEVs as well as global EV models in India along with a locally manufactured EV in the RV body style by 2030.

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350Z

 

[Nairrk]

Kia to launch three new cars, SUVs in 2024

Kia is gearing up to launch three new models in the country by the end of 2024, and will also showcase a new sub-4-metre model for India before the year is out. The carmaker will reveal the price of the refreshed Sonet compact SUV, bring in its flagship EV9 EV and launch the new-gen Carnival MPV in the country. Here are the most important details.

Kia Sonet facelift

Price: Rs 8 lakh-15 lakh
Launch: January 2024
Engine: 1.2 petrol, 1.0 turbo-petrol, 1.5 diesel

Bookings for the Sonet facelift began recently, a few days after its global debut. While the three engine options continue unchanged – along with manual, iMT and automatic transmission options – the diesel-manual version has made a comeback. For 2024, the Sonet is better equipped to take on the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Nissan Magnite and other compact SUVs, with feature additions such as a Level 1 ADAS, a new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and minor interior and exterior changes. Expect Kia Sonet facelift prices to exceed the outgoing model by a decent amount.

Read

 

[350Z]

Kia India has announced the appointment of Gwanggu Lee as the new Managing Director and CEO, with immediate effect. He will be the 3rd Managing Director and CEO of Kia India.

• Gwanggu Lee succeeds Kook Hyun Shim and Tae Jin Park. Tae Jin Park is retiring after his remarkable 36-year journey with Kia Corporation and 4 years stint with Kia India.
• Lee has held leadership positions in various capacities in both developed and developing economies, including US, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Kia Headquarters in Central and South America, and 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.

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350Z

 

[350Z]

Frost & Sullivan has revealed in its latest Total Cost of Ownership Benchmark analysis that Seltos and Carens offer segment's lowest maintenance expenses in both diesel and petrol variants.

• Kia Carens has emerged as the frontrunner in family mover segment, showcasing the most economical maintenance costs for both petrol and diesel variants by 21% and 26%, respectively.
• Kia Carens diesel models feature the lowest acquisition cost and it closely follows the segment's top performer in minimizing fuel costs, solidifying its position with a compelling value proposition.
• Frost & Sullivan also stated that Kia Seltos also offers the lowest maintenance costs for petrol variants, delivering a minimum of 17% savings over the industry average.
• Additionally, the Seltos diesel variants share the lowest maintenance costs with another segment leader. It has secured the second-best TCO for diesel variant and the third-best for the petrol variant.
• The firm also declared in December 2023 that Kia Sonet’s petrol and diesel variants’ maintenance costs are 16% and 14% lower than the segment average, respectively.

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350Z

 

[350Z]

Kia India has driven past a new milestone by recording sales of over 4,00,000 connected cars:

• The Connected Car variants contribute more than 44% to Kia India's overall domestic dispatches.
• Kia India's Connected Car variants are growing at 30.9% CAGR, outpacing the global growth forecast of 18% by 2032.
• The Seltos, with a 65% contribution, holds the primary position in driving Kia's total Connected Car sales. Variants equipped with Connected Car features comprise 57% of all Seltos units sold.
• Kia Carens demonstrates a similar trend, with 31% of its customers opting for Connected Car variants.
• Although telematics is available in only 7 variants of the Sonet currently, these models still contribute a significant 21% to the total Sonet sales.

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350Z

 

[350Z]

Kia Sonet has achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 4,00,000 sales in both domestic and overseas markets under 44 months.

• Of these, 317,754 units were sold domestically, while an additional 85,814 units were dispatched to overseas markets.
• In 44 months since launch, 63% of customers prefer Kia Sonet variants equipped with a Sunroof.
• The Sonet's 1.5L diesel engine is preferred by 37% of its customers, while 63% prefer petrol engine options.
• Kia has also observed a favourable consumer shift towards automatic variants. The 7-DCT transmission in Sonet has gained traction, growing by 37.50% since 2020.
• While automatic transmissions (7-DCT & 6-AT) contribute 28%, the iMT has a steady fanbase with a 23% sales contribution to Sonet.

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350Z

 

[Nairrk]

Kia India partners with Orix to launch vehicle Leasing Program

Kia Inda has partnered with Orix Auto Infrastructure Services LTD to introduce its vehicle leasing program, Kia Lease. Kia says that the move is aimed at enhancing the accessibility to the brand by offering customers the option to drive a car from its portfolio while reducing the hassle of insurance, maintenance and resale.

The leasing program has been launched in six locations for now – Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Pune – with buyers able to choose between the Sonet, Seltos and the Carens. Interested parties can lease the Kia vehicle of their choice for a period between 24 to 60 months along with a variety of mileage options. At the end of the leasing period, customers will be offered the option to return their existing vehicle and upgrade to a new car.

Monthly payments for the leasing program start at Rs 21,990 for the Sonet, Rs 28,900 for the Seltos and Rs 28,800 for the Carens. Prices will change depending on the duration of the lease and the mileage plan selected.

Speaking on the new leasing program Myung-sik Sohn, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India said, "The Leasing model is a global mega trend, gaining momentum in India too. This model resonates particularly well with new age consumers seeking flexible mobility solutions at appealing price points. With an industry forecast projecting 100% growth over the next 4-5 years, we anticipate our leasing service will outpace the industry growth average on account of better product range and service offerings.”

Car&bike

 

[350Z]

Kia India registered the sale of 19,500 units in May 2024. The company recorded a YoY growth of over 3.9% compared to 18,766 units in the corresponding month of the last year.

• Launched in January 2024, the new Sonet emerged as the highest-selling model for Kia India in May 2024 with 7,433 units, followed by Seltos and Carens with 6,736 and 5,316 units, respectively.
• Kia also dispatched 2,304 units to overseas markets in the month, taking the production figure to 21,804 units. The company surpassed the 2,50,000 export milestone to over 100 countries.
• The Seltos contributes the majority, with almost 60% of exports from India. Kia Sonet and Carens follow Seltos with 34% and 7% of the company's overseas dispatches, respectively.
• Kia has sold more than 9,80,000 units in the domestic market, with Seltos contributing almost 50% of the total. Kia India has announced that EV9 and New Carnival will be launched in the second half of this year.

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350Z

 

[Nairrk]

Kia crosses million unit milestone in India

Kia India has driven past the million-unit wholesale milestone in the domestic market. The Korean SUV and MPV manufacturer achieved this milestone in June 2024. The company’s cumulative sales from August 2019 through to June 2024 were 1,00,30,008 units or 3,008 units above the big number. Add July 2024 numbers (20,507 units) and you get Kia India’s total domestic sales of 10,23,515 units (see data table below).

Kia India, which began retailing its manufactured-in-Anantapur models in August 2019, has taken just under six years to record a million wholesales in the country. The company broke through the 6,00,000 sales mark in November 2022 and barely five months later, in April 2023, the 700,000 domestic market sales milestone was surpassed. The run from 7,00,000 to a million units has taken 13 months.

Kia India currently retails four products – three SUVs (Seltos, Sonet, all-electric EV6) and one MPV (Carens). The Seltos was Kia India’s first product launched in August 2019 and it remains the highest-selling product to date with cumulative sales of 4,92,497 units, accounting for 48 percent of the company’s dispatches (as of August 2024). In Kia’s sales-wise table of top contributors, the Seltos is followed by the Sonet compact SUV which has sold a total of 3,47,670 units, which gives it a 34 percent share of the company’s wholesales.

Data analytics reveal that the Sonet has outsold the Seltos for seven straight months in 2024 (see data table below). The Sonet’s cumulative January-July 2024 sales at 63,991 units are 40 percent more than the Seltos’ 45,691 units in the same period.

Launched on February 15, 2022, the Carens is the third-highest contributor to Kia India’s sales. With 167,650 units sold in 29 months accounting for a 16 percent share of the company’s sales to date.

Kia India’s first EV for India is the EV6 introduced in June 2022 as an import and CBU. As per SIAM and Kia India data, the EV6 has sold a total of 1,156 units.

The EV6 will be joined later this year by the all-electric EV9 SUV. The company’s top-down strategy with its EVs in India will see the new EV9 and EV6 slotted at the premium end of the EV market, while an all-new, made-in-India mass-market EV will be introduced in 2025.

Kia India exports and future launches
On July 13, 2023, Kia India had rolled out its millionth made-in-India car. Since then, till end-June 2024, the company has manufactured another 63,507 units from its Anantapur plant for a total cumulative production of 1.26 million units. Along with domestic market sales of a million units, Kia India has also shipped 258,339 units overseas.

Since its market entry, Kia India has expanded its dealership network to 5885 touchpoints across 265 cities. The company has previously announced that its two global models - the EV9 and the new Carnival MPV – will be launched in India in the second half of this year. At launch, the Carnival will be brought in as a full import while local assembly will commence at a later date.

Autocar

 

[350Z]

Kia India, celebrating its fifth year in the country, announced the achievement of the 1 million unit sales milestone in the domestic market. It has achieved this milestone within 59 months of its India operations.

• The flagship, Kia Seltos, has been a significant success driver for the company, accounting for over 48% of its total domestic sales.
• Following Seltos, Sonet and Carens contribute 34% and 16% to Kia India's total domestic dispatches, respectively.
• With 42% of its sales coming from the top trims, Kia India broke the common disbelief that India is only a cost-conscious market.
• Kia India offers 3 automatic transmissions – IVT, 6AT and 7DCT- which contribute 32% of its total sales.
• Kia also launched iMT with Sonet in 2020, contributing 15% to its domestic dispatches. The company's Petrol to Diesel ratio remains at 59%:41% currently.
• The company started with an annual sales volume of 45,226 units in 2019, which grew to 140,505 units in 2020, 181,583 units in 2021, 254,556 units in 2022 and 255,000 units in 2023.
• India is also a significant export base for Kia Corporation, with Kia India dispatching over 2.6 lakh units to 100 export markets. Kia India's cumulative sales stand at almost 1.3 million units.

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350Z

 

[350Z]

Kia India today announced the addition of 7 new dealerships in Kerala. With the new dealers coming on board, the company has 30 touchpoints in the state.

• The Southern region is the second-largest market for the brand in terms of touchpoints, following the North.
• At present, the brand has 178 touchpoints in South India, comprising Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Pondicherry.
• Kia strategically expanded its presence in the region placing touchpoints at key geographical locations to serve local and neighbouring areas.
• Looking ahead, Kia India is targeting to achieve over 700 touchpoints by the end of 2024.

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350Z

 

[350Z]

Kia India recorded 22,523 units domestic sales in August 2024. This marks a tremendous 17.19% Year-on-Year growth compared to the 19,219 units sold in the corresponding month of the last year.

• New Sonet is continuously gaining traction from customers and has been the flag bearer with domestic sales of 10,073 units.
• Kia Seltos, on the other hand, recorded 6,536 units while the Carens and EV6 registered sales of 5,881 and 33 units, respectively.
• On the global front, Kia’s ‘Make In India’ products continue to derive strong demand, with company exporting 2,604 units in August 2024.

Drive Safe,
350Z