Kia Sportage Sales Soar: Over 150,000 Units Sold in Europe Last Year

Exceeded 150,000 units per year for the first time
Impact of hybrid model popularity to be released in 2021
Kia “Expands the proportion and production capacity of eco-friendly vehicles in Europe”

Kia

Kia set a new record last year by selling over 150,000 units of its compact SUV, the Sportage, in Europe. As the popularity of eco-friendly hybrids increases in Europe, it is analyzed that this is due to the increase in sales of hybrid models introduced in 2021.

According to Kia, on the 13th, sales of Sportage in the Western European market last year amounted to 157,026 units, an 11.9% increase from the previous year. This is the first time annual sales in Europe have exceeded 150,000 units, and it is also a new annual sales record for the second consecutive year, following 140,327 units in 2022.

As of last year, the Sportage accounted for more than 25% of Kia’s total sales in the European market. The Sportage was also the best-selling vehicle in Europe last year among all models from Hyundai and Kia.

 

The Kia Sportage has been a popular model since its annual sales exceeded 100,000 units in Europe for the first time in 2015. The recent Sportage sensation in Europe is being led by the hybrid model released in 2021.

The Sportage Hybrid, introduced with the fifth-generation model, sold 56,309 units in 2022 and 73,179 in 2023. This accounts for nearly half of Sportage sales, including internal combustion engine models.

Kia also hopes to set a new sales record in Europe for the Sportage for the third year in a row this year. During its fourth-quarter earnings announcement, Kia announced on the 25th of last month that it plans to increase sales of the Sportage Hybrid and expand its share of eco-friendly vehicles in the European market.

Moreover, Kia plans to expand Sportage’s production capacity by 11,000 units compared to the previous year. The Sportage is currently produced and sold locally in Europe. Kia has been manufacturing the Sportage at its Slovakia plant since 2007. It has been producing the fifth-generation model since 2021, following the second-generation model in 2007, the third-generation model in 2010, and the fourth-generation model in 2015.

A Kia official said, “We can expect good results this year as well, thanks to the popularity of the hybrid model and the expansion of production capacity.”