Kia America announced December sales of 48,506 units, pushing the company’s annual total past the 700,000 mark for the first time in company history. Kia’s 2021 performance represents a 20-percent increase over last year with five of the brand’s most popular sedan, SUV and crossover models – Forte, Niro EV, Seltos, Sportage, and Telluride – reaching all-time annual sales records.
In addition, 2021 saw a big jump in demand for Kia’s hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, sales of which were up 97-percent year-over-year.
“Announcing best-ever annual sales is always a moment of pride, but for Kia to reach such heights in light of the ongoing pandemic and supply chain issues clearly illustrates the strength of our product line-up and the demand we have created for the Kia brand throughout 2021,” said Eric Watson, vice president, sales operations, Kia America. “With the arrival of the all-new, all-electric EV6 and all-new Sportage in the first half of 2022, it is clear we are ‘firing on all cylinders…and battery cells.”
The company sold 26,192 units of Niro EV in 2021 whereas it sold 17,434 units in 2020. The company sold 93,705 units of Telluride in 2021 and 75,129 units in 2020.
In addition to sales, December saw a number of significant announcements coming from the brand, including:
- The Telluride SUV named “Edmunds Top Rated SUV” for the third consecutive year
- The Kia Telluride and Seltos SUVs announced as repeat category winners of Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy Awards, marking three years in a row for Telluride (Best 3-Row Midsize SUV) and two for Seltos (Best Subcompact SUV)
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifying a maximum all-electric range (AER) of 310 miles for the 2022 Kia EV6 when equipped with a 77.4 kWh battery and rear-wheel drive
- The Telluride SUV and Carnival MPV received The Car Connection’s annual “Best Car To Buy” awards with Telluride taking “Best Family Car To Buy 2022” and Carnival as “Best Minivan To Buy 2022.”
