Kia India has reached an export milestone of one lakh units. This is a huge milestone for a brand which started exporting its cars from India only 29 months ago. The Kia Seltos and Kia Sonet built at Kia India’s plant in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, are exported to more than 90 countries across the world.
India is a vast market with lots of car manufacturers and all of the car manufacturers in India export some of the cars they build. While all of the manufacturers grew slowly and steadily, Kia India has had a sudden, yet steady growth.
Kia started its India journey back in May 2017 when it announced the construction of its manufacturing plant at Anantapur. Kia made its India debut at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo. In 2019, the Kia Seltos was launched this was followed by the launch of the Sonet in 2020. The Kia Carnival was also launched in 2020 and the brand is all set to launch the Carens MPV this month.
All of Kia India’s products have been a success not just in the domestic market, but as it turns out, even in several international markets. When Kia set shop in India, the brand came with the promise of turning India into its export hub, and it has certainly delivered on that front.
In September 2019, Kia started shipping the Seltos to international markets. The Kia Sonet too joined the export list when it was launched in 2020. Put together, these two SUVs were shipped to over 90 different countries around the world.
Now, Kia has revealed that it has touched the One lakh exports milestone. This is no small feat, especially given that it has been achieved in just 29 months. What makes it more commendable is the fact that each car was made to be specific to what the brand sells in a particular country.
For example, in one country, the Kia Seltos sold in Africa comes with a different colour scheme when compared to the Kia Seltos sold in India. However, the factory in India would have to accommodate this paint as well just to help with the exports. Despite these production complications, Kia India has exported over one lakh cars already.
By the end of January 2022, Kia had exported 1,01,734 vehicles to markets like the MIddle East, Africa, Mexico, Asia-Pacific, Central & South America, etc. According to Kia, 77 percent of the exports were the Seltos while the Sonet made up 23 percent of the exports.
Tae-Jin-Park, MD & CEO of Kia India was quoted as saying, “our hi-tech Anantapur plant has become one of the most critical production hubs for compact and medium-sized SUVs. We are extremely pleased that our India-centric models, Seltos and Sonet, have performed admirably in international market; highlighting the fact that our Indian products are truly global in nature.”
He went on to say that the plant would now manufacture and export the Carens. “We are now excited to continue building on this positive momentum with India manufacturing facility being the mother plant for Carens, serving the world.”
The Kia Carens is the latest product from Kia India and comes with a lot of bells and whistles as we found out in our first-drive review. Kia will launch the Carens in the Indian market later this month.
Thoughts On Kia India Exporting Over One Lakh Units In 29 Months
Kia is one of the few brands that has very quickly and almost effortlessly won the hearts of lakhs of buyers in India. Its growth both in the domestic market as well as for exports shows exactly where the brand is heading and it will be quite interesting to see what Kia India launches next. Will the brand finally launch a hatchback or sedan? Only time will tell. Or maybe rumours will.
Keyword: Kia India Exports More Than One Lakh Cars: Made-In-India Seltos & Sonet Exported To 90 Countries