
Following a record-breaking September, Kia is on track to sell 360,000 vehicles in Europe this year, an all-time best.
Kia Europe chief Michael Cole said sales were running 5% ahead so far in 2014 and the brand is now selling 50% more vehicles in the region than it did five years ago.
He added: “We are very pleased with the performance because we need Europe to do well. There is a lot of uncertainty in some parts of the world so keeping momentum in established markets is important.
“Can we maintain this level of growth? I think we can, we have the momentum and we have some really good new products coming through.”
At the Paris show Kia introduced its redesigned Sorento 4×4, and facelifts for the Venga and top-selling Rio and also showed its Optima T-Hybrid concept, which, said Cole, features a mild hybrid powertrain that will be seen on a number of models in the near future.
The new Sorento is lower and longer than its predecessor and will offer 2.4-litre petrol (in some markets) as well as two- and 2.2-litre diesel engines.