Kia Motors (UK) has spent over GBP5m to give each of its 155 dealerships a demonstration fleet for business and corporate buyers this year.
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The investment, managed by Siemens Financial Services, underlines Kia’s desire to increase the number of its vehicles within UK corporate fleets, which account for a majority of new car purchases in the country.
Kia’s sales to fleets have grown “substantially” by 59.1% over the past year, the company said, moving up the manufacturer rankings from 25th to 17th (leapfrogging companies such as Seat, Hyundai, Fiat, Land Rover, Jaguar and Mitsubishi).
Fleet market share grew by 60% from 0.75% at the end of 04 to 1.20% at the end of 05., increasing market share from 0.75% to 1.2% with the aim of a 2% share by the end of the year.
The automaker’s national corporate sales manager Phil Molkenthinsaid: “This investment illustrates Kia’s commitment to support our dealer network as we expand into business and corporate sales. As a growing company with ambitious plans for the future, we have recognised that we need to be more involved in the fleet sector.”
Kia launched new Rio and Cerato models in 2005 and has a redesigned Magentis coming for, and this will be available with both petrol and the diesel engines essential for success in the UK fleet market.
Kia is also launching two redesigned MPV’s, the seven-seat Sedona [Carnival] and five-seat Carens, this year.
