All New Kia Cerato
Published: 13th January 2004
While the five-door hatchback model will be the predominant choice among Cerato customers in Europe, the four-door saloon will do well in some European countries and is destined to become Kia’s top-selling car in the USA. It is anticipated that Cerato sales in Europe will account for 19% of the global total of 250,000 units sold during 2006. That year, Cerato sales in Korea are forecast to reach 63,000, with 120,000 units delivered in North America and a further 20,000 export models sold in non-European markets.
Currently the Kia model range covers just 35% of European market sectors. With a host of new model introductions over the next two years, Kia’s coverage will rise to 85% of these sectors, and the company is certain that its goal of 300,000 annual sales in Europe by 2005 is an achievable one.
Just one year later, annual Cerato sales in Europe are expected to reach 47,000 units, as the new C-Segment Kia takes on locally-built rivals like the Renault Mégane, Peugeot 307, Fiat Stilo and Ford Focus.
Designed at Kia facilities in Korea, the USA and Europe, the new Cerato is the result of more than 40 months’ intensive work and a total investment cost of approximately €220 million. Conceived to give Kia a tough new challenger in the C-Segment, the Cerato is destined to play a major role in the brand’s continued rapid grow in Europe and all around the globe.
