Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest carmaker, saw its sales of the Sportage SUV around the globe hit a record high last month thanks to strong demand for its latest model, industry data showed Tuesday.

According to the data, Kia Motors sold a total of 50,208 units of the Sportage in overseas markets in May, the largest-ever figure on a monthly basis since its global debut in 1993.


Of them, the sales of its latest fourth-generation Sportage stood at around 42,380 units.

The all-new Sportage, first unveiled in September of last year, has been experiencing a steady rise in its overseas sales.

The previous monthly sales record was 40,672 units in October 2013, the data showed.

Its Sportage exports to Africa and South America remained dull, but shipments from its overseas plants in Slovakia and China snowballed, leading the overall growth for the model.

Meanwhile, Kia said earlier that it planned to sell more than 60,000 units of the Sportage SUV on its home turf this year.

The all-new Sportage has two engine options. The R 2.0-liter diesel engine, which meets the latest Euro 6 emissions standards, is equipped with a high-efficiency turbo charger that allows for strong performance and claims a fuel efficiency of up to 14.4 kmpl.

The downsized UII 1.7-liter diesel power train offers a dynamic experience through its seven-speed dual clutch transmission. (Yonhap)