Kia Sonet crosses one lakh sales milestone in less than 12 months, becomes fourth most sold SUV in India

• Sonet contributes almost 32% to Kia India’s overall sales.
• iMT variants contribute to one-fourth of sales, leading the adoption of new technology
  

New Delhi, September 14: Kia India, the fastest-growing carmaker in the country, today announced the sales of 1,00,000 units of its compact SUV – Sonet, a feat achieved in less than 12 months of its launch in India. During the same period, the vehicle also became the fourth highest-selling SUV in the country. Introduced in September 2020, the Kia Sonet has emerged as a breakthrough product in its segment, contributing almost 17% to the segment and 32% to KIN’s overall sales.

Speaking on the milestone, Mr. Tae-Jin Park, Executive Director and Chief Sales & Business Strategy Officer, Kia India said, “The Sonet was launched when the auto industry was facing its worst slump in history with the advent of COVID-19 pandemic. The market was battling rock-bottom customer sentiment amidst manufacturing and supply chain setbacks. We introduced the Sonet in September last year against all odds, and it would not be an understatement to say that it has rewritten Kia’s success story in India and has made a stronghold in the segment with its industry-leading features and specifications. The one fourth contribution of iMT variant in total sales testifies that the model has also revolutionised the adaption of new technologies. The PV segment has been witnessing multiple transformations over the years, and as a leading automaker, we are committed to the changing trends and offering new-age driving experience to our customers across segments.”

With the introduction of the exclusively made-in-India Sonet, Kia set a benchmark in the compact-SUV segment with its unique offerings and many first-in-segment features. Available in 17 variants, the Sonet is the only compact-SUV to offer a 1.5 litre Diesel engine with automatic transmission, contributing almost 10% to its overall sales. The Sonet customers show high affinity towards the top-of-the-line variants that contributed almost 64% to the overall dispatches. They also have a high appetite for the newer automotive technologies wherein almost 30% preferred a connected variant of the Sonet and 26% opted for the revolutionary iMT technology.

The company recently launched the refreshed version of Sonet with ten new enhancements to further augment customers’ convenience and their driving delight. The Sonet hosts a bold and distinctive design that complements its several class-leading features and a number of engine and transmission options, making it one of the most versatile cars in the segment. Developed ground-up to set new benchmarks in design, technology, dynamics, and safety, the Sonet has stood out in a crowded compact SUV segment, making it one of India’s favourite compact SUVs.

Kia India – about us
In April 2017, Kia India signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the State Government of Andhra Pradesh, India, to build a new manufacturing facility at Anantapur District. Kia commenced mass production in August 2019 and has an annual production capacity of approximately 300,000 units. In April 2021, Kia India reimagined itself in line with its new brand identity, “Movement that Inspires” aimed at offering customers meaningful experiences backed by innovative products and services. Under the new brand identity, Kia has set out to find ways to achieve new benchmarks and inspire consumers to be more and do more. Till date, Kia India has launched three vehicles for Indian market – the Seltos, the Carnival and the Sonet; and has become the youngest brand to be the 4^th largest automaker in India with class-leading product offering, service quality and reliability. Kia India became the quickest brand to achieve the 300,000 sales milestone in the domestic automotive market in less than two years of its operations. Kia is also leading the connected car evolution in India with over 1.5 lakh cars on Indian roads, it is the connected SUV Leader. The brand has a widespread network of 300 customer touchpoints and is focused on strengthening its footprints across the country.

Kia Corporation – about us

Kia (www.kia.com) is a global mobility brand with a vision to create sustainable mobility solutions for consumers, communities, and societies around the world. Founded in 1944, Kia has been providing mobility solutions for more than 75 years. With 52,000 employees worldwide, a presence in more than 190 markets, and manufacturing facilities in six countries, the company today sells around three million vehicles a year. Kia is spearheading the popularization of electrified and battery electric vehicles and developing a growing range of mobility services, encouraging millions of people around the world to explore the best ways of getting around. The company's brand slogan – ‘Movement that inspires’ – reflects Kia’s commitment to inspire consumers through its products and services.

 

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