Kia Motors (UK) Limited continues to lead sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the UK this year. The e-Niro maintains its position as the country’s best-selling BEV for the second consecutive month. Across its full model line-up, the company sold a total of 2,873 units in the UK in February, representing a 5.6 percent market share.
Despite challenging market conditions, the growing demand for electric and hybrid vehicles contributed to the brand’s sales performance. Electrified models, including BEVs, PHEVs and self-charging hybrid powertrains, accounted for 45.7 percent of Kia’s sales in February. This is more than a third (35.5 percent) of the brand’s total year-to-date sales.
The Niro model family was the brand’s best-seller in February. With 1,215 units sold across all three variants (including e-Niro, Self-Charging Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid variants). The Niro family was the sixth best-selling model in the UK in February. What’s most impressive is that the fully electric e-Niro accounted for 757 of these sales.
Combined with sales of the Soul EV, which were 41 units in February and 105 units year-to-date, Kia’s zero-emission BEVs account for almost one in five (19 percent) of all fully-electric vehicles sold in the UK so far this year.
At the start of 2021, Kia Corporation announced plans to launch seven new dedicated electric vehicles between now and 2027, under the brand’s ‘Plan S’ mid to long-term business strategy. The first of these electric vehicles will be unveiled at the end of the first quarter this year and will play an important role in Kia UK’s future electric vehicle line up.
Paul Philpott, president and CEO of Kia Motors (UK) Limited, said: “The market still faces major challenges, even with a growing sense of optimism across the country. That said, our dealer network continues to work hard to deliver customer vehicles safely.
“Meanwhile, our long-term product strategy and focus on electrification means we are able to offer a wide range of vehicles and advanced powertrains in line with the evolving expectations of our customers.”
