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Published Sunday, August 24, 2008 in Local

Kia posts sales increase for 2008

By News Staff

The Times-Herald

Kia Motors Corporation reports its global sales of passenger cars, recreation vehicles and commercial vehicles in July 2008 totalled 122,230, representing a 24.1 percent year-on-year increase.

The figures included export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants. By region, Kia posted large, year-on-year sales increases in China -- 11,110 units, a 114.1% year-on-year increase; Korea -- 27,514 units, a 37.5% year-on-year increase; and general markets -- 22,973 units, a 37.3% year-on-year increase.

Sales increases were also significant in Europe and North America where 28,670 -- 8.4% year-on-year increase -- and 31,963 -- 6.2% -- Kia vehicles were sold in July, respectively.

Cumulatively, through the first seven months of 2008, Kia's global sales increased by 16.9% and reached 839,384 units.

So far in 2008, Kia's best selling model in overseas markets has been the C-segment Cerato -- known as 'Spectra' in some markets -- with 124,058 units sold. It is followed by a close group of three vehicles: the B-segment Rio at 94,340, the C-segment cee'd at 91,857 and Kia's Sportage compact SUV at 87,547. Meanwhile the A-segment Picanto continues to perform well with 61,498 units sold.

The Sorrento will be constructed at the plant being constructed at West Point in Troup County.

"As we enter the second half of 2008, we continue to experience strong sales growth across all markets, and we have achieved consistently high and significant year-on-year gains in China and general markets in particular," said Hyoung-Keun Lee, senior executive vice president or Kia's international business division. "These results represent great performance by our sales team, especially given the difficult industry environment."

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and Ron Jackson, commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, recently visited the Kia plant, which is under construction, while they were in the area for open house at the "West Campus" of West Georgia Technical College in LaGrange.

Perdue and Jackson each took a test drive of an all new 2009 Kia Borrego.

"The State of Georgia has been and continues to be a wonderful partner for Kia," according to Randy Jackson, Kia Motor Manufacturing Georgia's director of human resources and administration. "From day one, Gov. Perdue has taken a major interest in seeing that this project is a big success story for the state."

"The positive economic impact of these jobs will affect not only the families of Kia workers and the immediate region, but all of Georgia," the governor said earlier this year. In the most recent issue of Results, a publication of the TCSG, Ron Jackson wrote, "Our system has played an instrumental role in helping Kia get up and running through the services of Quick Start and many of our technical colleges."

While construction at the plant off Gabbettville Road continues, many Kia employees have offices on the second floor of the "West Campus" of West Georgia Technical College.

Perdue announced Friday that Kia supplier Powertech America plans to locate on the Kia site, creating 355 jobs and investing $150 million.

"Today's announcement brings the total number of jobs planned by Kia and its suppliers to more than 6,200 and the total investment to more than $1.7 billion," Perdue said. "Having the transmission plant locate on site with the assembly facility is a great win for Georgia."