February 2011 Sales: Kia Motors America

[William Maley]

KIA MOTORS AMERICA ANNOUNCES RECORD FEBRUARY SALES

Company Achieves 36-Percent Monthly Sales Increase;

Up 31 Percent Year To Date

IRVINE, Calif., March 1, 2011 - Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced the brand's best ever February sales of 32,806 units, besting the previous February record of 24,052 set in 2010 by 36.4 percent. Year-to-date sales are up 31.2 percent and the 2011 Sorento was KMA's best-selling vehicle for the 14th straight month. The February sales record marks KMA's sixth consecutive month of record sales.

"With back-to-back monthly sales records in 2011 we are well ahead of last year's record first quarter sales pace thanks to head-turning vehicles such as the all-new Optima and tremendously popular Sorento that have raised consumer awareness and perception of the Kia brand," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG). "Following closely on the heels of the introduction of our first turbocharged model in the U.S. – the 2011 Optima Turbo – we are preparing to launch a turbocharged version of the Sportage compact CUV that will bring a new level of performance and driving excitement to this already popular CUV."