Best Ever Month For Kia

• Sedona No2 large MPV
• Kia launches autumn TV campaign
• Kia Top 3 position in Which? Survey

Kia continued its record breaking year with a storming September producing 4,134 sales and year-to-date sales up 79% on last year in a market up just 0.5%.

Managing Director, Paul Williams said: "This is the best ever sales month for Kia in the UK which shows the strength of our products, the capability of our dealer network and the fact that customers are identifying with our unique £1 deposit marketing initiative. In fact it is the best monthly figure for any export country with the exception of the United States."

Unusually Kia sales are not dominated by one single model with Rio the top seller (29%) followed by Sedona (26%) and Carens (16%).

Paul Williams explained: "Our Rio, Sedona, Carens and Sorento products are proving to be very successful for Kia. While we have become accustomed to the success of Sedona it is important to note that with 1,059 sales in September Sedona is comfortably the second best selling large MPV in the UK market both in the month and year-to-date. That means it is well ahead of far more heavily promoted competitors."

Kia’s success looks set to continue with the announcement of the most comprehensive TV advertising campaign ever launched in the UK. Starting in October Kia will be promoting its £1 deposit campaign with an advertisement that demonstrates Kia’s unique character. This autumn campaign succeeds two previous campaigns on regional TV in 2001 and 2002 heralding Kia’s first national TV campaign.

Paul Williams indicated the significance of the Which? findings.

"Retaining customers is becoming an increasingly high priority for car franchises with the need to ensure that customers enjoy a top level of service prior to and during their car ownership. The latest Which? Car Survey 2003/2004 placed Kia third best franchise for Servicing and Repairs (behind Porsche and Lexus). This result is very encouraging as it is a vote of confidence from our customers and a tribute to the quality of our dealers."