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Kia Motors India closes FY2020 with 84,903 units and 9% UV market share

What was a relatively unknown brand in the Indian market a year ago is now a challenger brand. The Hyundai-Kia combine now have 27.66% of the UV market.

By Ajit Dalvi

14 Apr 2020

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In just 8 months, Kia has taken an 8.97% share of the UV market with sale of 84,903 units (81,716 Seltos SUVs and 3,187 Carnival MPVs), becoming the new No. 4 UV player in India.

In FY2020, Kia Motors India manufactured 101,420 vehicles comprising 97,804 Seltos SUVs and 3,616 Carnival MPVs at its Anantapur plant in Andhra Pradesh.

From August 2019 to end-March 2020, the carmaker has sold 81,716 Seltos SUVs, which makes for monthly sales of 10,214 units and the No. 1 UV title too

Around August 2020, Kia will launch its third model, the Sonet compact SUV. The tech-laden Hyundai Venue and Maruti Vitara Brezza fighter, available with a wide variety of powertrains, is expected to carry a sticker price of Rs 700,000-11.5 lakh.

It is understood Kia's manufacturing plan will see around 170,000 units produced in 2020, growing to 230,000 units in 2021 and achieving capacity utilisation of 300,000 units by 2022.

Kia is also plotting a midsize MPV for India. It will introduce the all-new Ertiga-rivalling midsize MPV by end-2021.

Kia Motors India (8.97%) and Hyundai Motor India (18.69%) put together hold 27.66% UV market share, a tad higher than leader Maruti Suzuki India (24.87%).

In what was a dismal fiscal for India Auto Inc, which posted a sharp 18% year-on-year overall vehicle sales decline in FY2020, there were only a few redeeming features. One was the utility vehicle (UV) segment, which was the sole sub-segment among passenger vehicles to record positive, albeit flat, growth (0.48%) and the rip-roaring performance of Kia Motors India.

In the short span of a scant 8 months, the Korean carmaker, sister brand to Hyundai Motor India, has grabbed an 8.97% share of the UV market with sale of 84,903 units (81,716 Seltos SUV and 3,187 Carnival MPV), ...

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