LOS ANGELES (Yonhap News) ― Kia Motors America said Friday its total sales of cars in the United States topped the 4 million mark as of the end of May.
South Korea’s No. 2 carmaker Kia Motors Corp. started selling cars in the North American country in 1994. The company’s U.S. branch said the 4 million milestone was especially impressive because sales surpassed the 3 million mark only in 2010.
In the past 18 years, the company said, it sold 576,000 Sorento mid-size crossover sports utility vehicles, 557,000 Sportage compact SUVs and 515,000 Optima mid-size sedans.
The carmaker said it sold 51,771 cars in May alone, an increase of 7.4 percent from a year earlier. Sales of the very popular Optima soared 79.8 percent on-year to 13,364 units.
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Co., the larger sibling of Kia, said it sold 67,019 vehicles in the United States last month, up 13 percent on-year, thanks in part to a spike in sales of its Veloster three-door sporty compact and its new Azera full-size sedan.
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
