Kia Motors' global sales jump 39.5% in February

• Source: Xinhua
• [13:26 March 11 2010]
• Comments

Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second largest automaker, saw a year-on-year global sales increase of 39.5 percent in February this year, selling a total of 143,267 vehicles, the company said Thursday.

The sales increase in February was a result of Kia's double- digit year-on-year sales growth in all regions: it gained 128.6 percent in China with 25,435 units sold, 52.7 percent in general markets with 32,578 units sold, 34.4 percent in Europe with 24,992 units sold, 21.6 percent in South Korea with 33,209 units sold, and 11.4 percent in North America with 27,053 units sold, according to the company.

General markets include the regions in Central and South America, the Caribbean, Asia (excluding China), the Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.

In addition, Kia's global sales have jumped 50.6 percent year- on-year in the first two months of 2010, reaching 293,659 units sold, the company said.

Through the first two months of 2010, China had the highest year-on-year sales spike of 180.9 percent, for a total of 61,339 units sold, while general markets and Europe had increases of 56.7 percent and 42.8 percent, respectively, added the company.

"We are extremely pleased to have posted double-digit growths in all major sales regions around the world in February,"Hyoung- Keun Lee, President of Kia Motors Corp., said in a statement.

"Sales of Kia vehicles in China continue to expand at a remarkable pace,"he added.

Kia has posted a record- high net profit of 1.45 trillion won ($1.25 billion) last year.