Kia August global sales rise 5 percent on overseas strength

Kia said Tuesday its global vehicle sales rose 5 percent in August from a year earlier, driven by strong demand in overseas markets that offset a decline in domestic deliveries.

The automaker sold 266,675 units worldwide last month, up from 253,943 during the same period in 2025. Overseas shipments climbed 7.4 percent to 225,413 units, a gain the company attributed to the effectiveness of customized sales strategies tailored to regional demands.

Domestic sales slipped 7.6 percent to 40,213 units as the summer holiday season reduced the number of working days compared with the previous year.

"While the domestic market saw a decline due to fewer working days from the summer vacation, the overseas market continued its growth trend through customized sales strategies based on regional demand," a Kia official said.

Special-purpose vehicle sales surged 93.9 percent to 1,049 units, with 897 units shipped abroad and 152 sold domestically.

The Sportage was the best-selling model globally with 46,239 units, followed by the Seltos at 35,698 units and the Sorento at 18,404 units. In the domestic market, the Sorento led sales with 6,397 units.

Looking ahead, a Kia official said the company expects to maintain sales momentum in the second half of the year by focusing on hybrid models in the United States and electric vehicles in Europe.