Kia America announced best-ever November sales of 58,338 units, an increase of 2.8% over the same period last year. The record month propelled Kia past its previous record for total annual U.S. sales, taking Kia just 11 months for 2023 – with 722,176 vehicles sold year-to-date – and the 16th consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth.
Total retail sales in November increased over the previous year with 54,547 units sold through Kia dealers, and total year-to-date retail sales increased 12-percent over the first 11 months of 2022.
Kia’s marketing departments are spinning “EV models saw a year-over-year increase of 120-percent with EV6 sales surging by 101-percent compared to the same month last year.” However the numbers also show that on average 2023 non-EV6 Kia models have already exceeded 2022 sales totals by 10.6%. If we remove the poor selling, end of life Kia Stinger from the sales equation, non-EV6 sales are actually up >15%! Yet Kia EV6 sales are down 10% by comparison, a spread of 25 points.
Brighter news for Kia’s new flagship EV9: reservation deposits from customers in every U.S. state have been received.
“Demand for Kia vehicles continues at an all-time high and to beat our previous annual sales record in less than 11 months demonstrates the power of the Kia brand and growing lineup of rugged and capable SUVs, sports sedans and innovative EVs.,” said Eric Watson, vice president, sales operations, Kia America. “New customers are shopping Kia like never before and our retailers are selling more vehicles than ever, and with the groundbreaking EV9 SUV arriving shortly in showrooms and the updated Sorento SUV on the way, we anticipate Kia’s winning streak will extend well into the new year.”
Kia’s SUV lineup accounted for 71-percent of November sales.
| November | Year to Date | |||
| Model | 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 |
| EV9 | 5 | N/A | 5 | N/A |
| EV6 | 1,290 | 641 | 17,630 | 19,391 |
| Rio | 1,785 | 2,591 | 25,525 | 24,638 |
| Forte | 9,849 | 9,725 | 114,377 | 100,731 |
| K5 | 5,112 | 4,520 | 59,906 | 62,946 |
| Stinger | 20 | 342 | 5,441 | 7,415 |
| Soul | 3,601 | 4,050 | 57,864 | 53,277 |
| Niro | 2,366 | 3,294 | 33,859 | 25,171 |
| Seltos | 4,214 | 4,095 | 55,628 | 40,750 |
| Sportage | 11,010 | 10,554 | 129,647 | 112,170 |
| Sorento | 6,872 | 7,204 | 80,886 | 79,124 |
| Telluride | 8,810 | 8,558 | 101,324 | 89,033 |
| Carnival | 3,404 | 1,129 | 40,084 | 18,480 |
| Total | 58,338 | 56,703 | 722,176 | 633,127 |