Kia Motors has reported improved business performance in Q1, 2014 despite flat trading in the domestic market and a strong KRW-US$ exchange rate.
Global sales rose by 5.2% to more than 687,000 units despite a drop of 1,000 units to 108,000 at home in South Korea.
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There were big gains in China, up 13.3% to 156,000 vehicles, and Europe where sales rose 7.9% to 89,000 units. US sales rose 4.8% to 133,000.
Revenue grew 7.6% to KRW11.9 trillion (US$11.5bn) with operating profit up 4.5% to KRW736bn.
Kia noted that the performance was boosted by increased global sales of its Sportage and Sorento SUVs which took 36% of Q1 sales compared to 29% in the first quarter of 2013.
Unit output was also increased in Q1 with Korean plants producing 433,000 vehicles – up 9.3% on 2013. Overseas factories – in China, Europe and the US – produced 10.8% more vehicles – 339,000 units compared to 306,000 in 2013.
