Kia Motors Mexico has celebrated its first anniversary with the announcement it will launch the Niro Hybrid Utility Vehicle (HUV) at the end of the year. This will be its first hybrid vehicle in the country.
With 34,517 units sold during the first 12 months of operation in Mexico, Kia has become the ninth best-selling brand in the country.
"This has been a year of great challenges and also of extraordinary accomplishments for Kia Motors as we exceeded our own expectations," said Seong Bae Kim, pPresident and CEO of Kia Motors Mexico. "We are very happy and proud to have not only surpassed our first year sales target but have successfully established a comprehensive retail dealer network throughout the country that is providing world-class service to Mexican consumers," he said.
Kia Motors Mexico expects to sell 45,000 units in 2016 which means that the automaker could reach local market share of over 3%, establishing itself as a truly competitive brand in Mexico with a lineup that will reach seven models (Sportage, Sorento, Forte (Cerato), Rio, Optima, Soul, and Niro) by the end of this year.
A strategic pillar is the consolidation of its dealer network comprised of 73 dealers covering 94% of the national territory. As part of the celebration of its first anniversary, the automaker opened 25 new dealers in 21 new cities this week in record time.
"We have had a very successful year. Surely this is an unprecedented achievement in an industry where more than 40 brands compete," said Horacio Chavez, managing director of Kia Motors Mexico. "However, our challenge goes on and we work every day to strengthen the brand with the best products and the best customer service, with the aim of achieving 5% market share in the next four years," he said.
Kia has a Mexican factory in Nuevo Leon where production of the Forte started last May.
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