Kia Motors America Announces Record April Sales

IRVINE, Calif., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced its best sales month ever with record April sales of 30,066 units, a 15.6-percent increase over the same period last year, and year-to-date sales of 98,280 total units.

Kia's April growth was led by Spectra and Optima, up 4.8 percent and 89.3 percent respectively over the previous month. Rondo sales increased 118.3 percent over the same period last year with 2,583 unit sales. Rio and Spectra continue their strong showing with 4,052 and 8,406 units sold respectively, with increases of 23.6 and 16.7 percent.

"As consumers are looking to further stretch their dollar in the midst of rising gasoline prices and a downward sliding economy, we are pleased to see Kia's fuel-efficient and dynamic product line continue to appeal to new car buyers," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG). "Kia's value-packed Rio and Spectra models continue to outpace last year's sales and Rondo's strong showing position KMA for another successful sales effort this year."

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2007, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of record U.S. sales. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Kia Motors America is the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site -- http://www.kia.com/. For media information, including photography, visit
MONTH OF APRIL YEAR-TO-DATE

Model 2008 2007 2008 2007
Rio 4,052 3,279 13,150 9,588
Spectra 8,406 7,203 26,419 21,696
Optima 4,550 4,538 13,746 13,963
Amanti 235 528 791 3,266
Sportage 3,960 3,695 13,746 15,410
Sorento 2,991 2,883 7,612 12,962
Sedona 3,289 2,698 10,580 18,622
Rondo 2,583 1,183 12,236 4,103

Total 30,066 26,007 98,280 99,610

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Source: Kia Motors America

CONTACT: Alex Fedorak of Kia Motors America, +1-949-468-4813

Web site: http://www.kia.com/
http://www.kiamedia.com/

2008-05-01 19:31:56 0351129 PRNEWSWIRE