Kia February 2012 Sales Up 37.3%

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Optima and Rio lead the sales charge for an unprecedented 18th consecutive monthly sales record!

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - March 1, 2012

2012 Kia Rio - Starting at just $13,400 USD, this well appointed and fuel efficient ride incorporates the best exterior design, most advanced features and latest appointments of any competitor in its class no matter where in the world that competitor is being sold.

CleanMPG Previews the 2012 Kia Rio 5-Door Hatch

Available with a proximity key system, folding mirrors, a full navigation system, leather interior, rear backup camera, sunroof and a high end audio system while still providing a 30/40 mpgUS city/highway rating and all for a price less than $20K? That describes the Rio to a tee.

A fun to drive and look at B-Segment that is just beginning to “get discovered”

Kia February Sales

Kia today announced its best ever February sales of 45,038 units, a 37.3-percent increase over the same period in 2011. Year-to-date sales are up 32.9 percent on the strength of the built-in-the-U.S. Optima and Soul which led February sales with 11,558 and 10,876 units sold respectively.

Byung Mo Ahn, Group President and CEO of KMA and KMMG:

"Kia's record-breaking sales momentum has continued in 2012, and one of our key enablers has been the success and efficiency of our first U.S. manufacturing plant, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), which produced its 500,000th vehicle in February, just over two years since opening its doors."

Kia as a brand, the highlights

From 2009-2011 Kia has launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker. Over that period, what has been released have been eye-catching thanks to Kia chief design officer Peter Schreyer. Kia's full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs have earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand.

Kia's U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds the company's two best-selling vehicles in the U.S. – the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan.

2012 Kia Rio


A great looking subcompact hatch that is a true value leader amongst its peers.

Kia February 2012 Overall Sales

Model	Feb-12	Feb -11	Feb -DSR % change	Feb -12 YTD	Feb -11 YTD	YTD-DSR % change
Rio	3,598	1,852	+86.5%	6,194	2,815	+115.5%
Forte	5,706	5,304	+3.3%	10,123	10,634	-6.7%
Optima	11,558	4,844	+129.1%	20,372	8,663	+130.4%
Kia Feb. 2012 Sales Totals	45,038	32,806	+31.8%	80,555	60,595	+30.2%

The daily selling rate (DSR) is calculated with 25 days Feb. of 2012 and 24 days for Feb. of 2011.
Year-to-date, the DSR is calculated with 49 days for 2012 and 48 days for 2011. All percentages reflect DSR.

What I find really interesting is that by the end of the year, Kia may outsell its Korean counterpart Hyundai! Hyundai’s February sales were up 17.5% at 51,151. With Kia selling 45,038 units in February, both are within a stone’s throw of one another. And they battle each other as if it were GM, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota going head to head too!

Top 10 – February 2012 US Automobile Sales Leaders

Sales Rank	Make	Model	Feb-12	Feb-11	Feb-DSR % change	Feb-12 YTD	Feb-11 YTD	YTD-DSR % change
1	Ford	F-Series	47,273	37,549	+20.9%	85,766	73,355	+14.5%
2	Toyota	Camry	34,542	27,212	+21.9%	62,837	45,357	+35.7%
3	Nissan	Altima	32,953	20,808	+52.0%	55,310	37,262	+45.4%
4	Chevrolet	Silverado	32,297	31,728	-2.3%	59,147	59,900	-3.3%
5	Honda	Civic	27,087	19,121	+36.0%	48,970	33,755	+42.1%
6	Honda	CR-V	24,759	19,096	+24.5%	43,719	35,435	+20.9%
7	Ford	Focus	23,350	10,879	+106.0%	37,750	19,893	+85.9%
8	Ram	P/U	22,595	18,644	+16.3%	40,504	30,841	+28.7%
9	Toyota	Corolla	22,148	25,860	-17.8%	40,136	46,441	-15.3%
10	Ford	Fusion	21,773	23,111	-9.6%	35,387	37,457	-7.5%

The daily selling rate (DSR) is calculated with 25 days Feb. of 2012 and 24 days for Feb. of 2011.
Year-to-date, the DSR is calculated with 49 days for 2012 and 48 days for 2011. All percentages reflect DSR.

Top 10 Sales Leaders items of note: Silverado sales fell to fourth on the list behind F-Series, Camry and Altima vs. third last month. Cruze sales fell out of the top 10 although it still sold over 20,000 units.

B-Segment Sales Rank

1. Nissan Versa - 10,190
2. Chevrolet Sonic - 7,900
3. Hyundai Accent - 5,806
4. Ford Fiesta - 5,518
5. Honda Fit - 4,227
6. Toyota Yaris - 3,611
7. Kia Rio - 3,598

C-Segment Sales Rank

1. Honda Civic - 27,087
2. Ford Focus - 23,350
3. Toyota Corolla - 22,148
4. Chevrolet Cruze - 20,427
5. Hyundai Elantra - 13,820
6. VW Jetta - 11,694
7. Nissan Sentra - 10,605

D-Segment Sales Rank

1. Toyota Camry - 34,542
2. Nissan Altima - 32,953
3. Ford Fusion - 21,773
4. Honda Accord - 20,702
5. Chevrolet Malibu - 19,987
6. Hyundai Sonata - 17,425
7. Kia Optima - 11,558
8. VW Passat - 8,189

Segment ranking items of note: Fiesta outsold the Fit. Rio is quickly catching up to the Yaris. The Focus outsold all but the Civic and leapt past the Corolla and Cruze. The Accord jumped up 2 spots topping both the Malibu and Sonata. Fusion jumped 4 spots passing the Accord, Malibu and Sonata.

Automobile Manufacturer's US Sales Rank - February 2012 vs. February 2011 Comparison and Total Sales

1. GM February Sales up 1.1% with 209,306 vehicles sold.
2. Ford February Sales up 14.4% with 179,119 vehicles sold.
3. Toyota February Sales up 12.4% with 159,423 vehicles sold.
4. Chrysler February Sales up 40.4% with 133,521 vehicles sold.
5. Honda February Sales up 12.3% with 110,157 vehicles sold.
6. Nissan February Sales up 10.9% with 106,731 vehicles sold.
7. Hyundai February Sales up 17.5% with 51,151 vehicles sold.
8. Kia February Sales up 37.3% with 45,038 vehicles sold.
9. VW February Sales up 42.5% with 30,577 vehicles sold.
10. BMW February Sales up 31.5% with 26,184 vehicles sold.
11. Mazda February Sales up 32.2% with 25,651 vehicles sold.
12. Subaru February Sales up 17.0% with 25,374 vehicles sold.
13. Mercedes-Benz February Sales up 21.7% with 19,679 vehicles sold.
14. Audi February Sales up 10.0% with 8,531 vehicles sold.