Sales of Kia’s Optima Hybrid are flying in the US with 732 deliveries last month, a 261% increase over July last year, and overtaking Ford’s Fusion and Toyota’s Prius hybrids.

The only two models ahead in monthly US sales of the Optima (called K5 in South Korea) are Chevrolet’s Volt and the Toyota Camry hybrid.

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This marks something of a turnaround for the Kia which was a slow burner when it arrived in US showrooms in June last year.

Slow sales were attributed to low brand awareness of Korean hybrid cars. In its first two months Stateside, just 273 were sold.

So far this year 4,756 units have been delivered.

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