Kia has wrapped up 2025 on a strong note, clocking its highest-ever global sales despite a mixed and uncertain automotive market worldwide. The South Korean carmaker sold 3,135,803 vehicles globally last year, marking a 2 per cent year-on-year growth and setting a fresh annual record for the brand.
The momentum has carried Kia into 2026 with confidence, driven largely by sustained SUV demand and solid performances in key overseas markets — including India.
Overseas markets do the heavy lifting
A bulk of Kia’s global volumes came from outside its home market. Overseas sales stood at 2,584,238 units, also up 2 per cent compared to 2024. Domestic demand in South Korea remained steady, with sales of 545,776 vehicles, reflecting a 1 per cent increase.
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Special purpose vehicles (SPVs) continued to be a niche part of Kia’s portfolio, contributing 5,789 units globally, with little impact on overall volumes.
SUVs remain Kia’s biggest growth engine
SUVs once again proved to be Kia’s strongest pillar in 2025. The Kia Sportage emerged as the brand’s top-selling model worldwide, recording 569,688 units. It was followed by the Seltos with 299,766 units, while the Sorento added 264,673 units to the tally.
Alongside these volume drivers, newer products such as the EV3, the K4 sedan and the hybrid Carnival helped Kia stay competitive across segments. Improved production efficiency and tighter supply-chain management also played a key role in navigating tariff pressures and uneven demand, particularly in North America and Europe.
Hybrid models saw rising demand in the US, while electric vehicles strengthened Kia’s footprint across European markets.
2026 target: Bigger push on hybrids and SUVs
Building on its record-breaking year, Kia has set an ambitious global sales target of 3.35 million units for 2026. Overseas markets are expected to account for 2.775 million units, while domestic sales in Korea are projected at 565,000 units. SPVs are expected to add another 10,000 units.
A major focus area going forward will be expanding hybrid powertrains, especially across popular SUV nameplates like the next-generation Telluride and Seltos.
India delivers its best year yet for Kia
Kia’s global success story was clearly mirrored in India. The automaker recorded its best-ever December since entering the Indian market, with wholesale dispatches of 18,659 units, marking a massive 105 per cent jump over December 2024.
For the full calendar year, Kia India sold 280,286 vehicles, registering a 15 per cent annual growth.
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The Sonet continued to anchor Kia’s India performance, crossing the one lakh sales mark for the second consecutive year. Strong demand for the Seltos and Carens further supported volumes, while newer offerings like the Carens Clavis and its electric version received encouraging customer response. Premium models such as the fourth-generation Carnival and the EV6 also maintained steady traction.
Backing this growth, Kia India expanded its footprint significantly in 2025, taking its sales and service network to 821 touchpoints across 369 cities.
With SUVs and electrified powertrains clearly leading the charge, Kia enters 2026 with a solid foundation — and India firmly positioned as one of its key growth markets.
