• Kia achieves its best quarter, and month, on record
• Almost 20,000 new car sales in a single month surpassed (19,993)
• Fourth best-selling brand in the UK in March, and third best-selling year-to-date
• Second best-selling brand in UK for electrified vehicles in March and year-to-date
• EV3 is the best-selling EV in the UK within the retail market in Q1
• Sportage second best-selling car in the UK in March and Q1
• Kia achieves 35,063 new car sales in Q1 and 6.0% market share
Kia UK has achieved a record-breaking first quarter in 2025, smashing previous sales tallies in January, February and March. March 2025 marked the Kia's best-ever month and quarter in the brand's 34-year UK lifespan, as well as the best month and quarter for Kia globally since records began.
Marching onwards: Kia UK's best month of all time
In March, Kia recorded 19,993 sales, bolstered by Kia's range of electrified models (EVs, PHEVs, HEVs) accounting for more than 55% of the brand's sold vehicles, and making Kia the fourth best-selling brand in the UK throughout March, and second best-seller of electrified vehicles.
The Kia EV3 also had a record month, retaining its place as the best-selling EV with retail customers in the UK. Together with strong sales of EV6, EV9 and Niro EV, electric vehicle sales accounted for 21% of Kia's total UK sales in March, far ahead of the current industry standard.
Sportage, as ever, continued to prove itself as Kia's best-seller, finishing the month as the second best-selling car in the UK with 7,874 units sold. The ever-popular family SUV accounted for 39% of Kia UK's total sales in March, and UK examples of the model totalled more than 16% of Kia's worldwide sales of Sportage. UK appetite for the Sportage proved to be even stronger than in Kia's homeland of South Korea, outselling the home-market Sportage by more than 1,000 units.
Paul Philpott, President & CEO, Kia UK Limited: '2025 has started as yet another fantastic year for Kia. Following a record-breaking first two months, hitting record sales in a single month for March is an incredible achievement; and one in which the entirety of Kia UK and our dealer network can take a huge amount of pride.
'This sales volume simply cannot be achieved without the unwavering dedication of each of our dealer partners, and their tireless work putting customers first and maintaining such a high level of service.
'While the rest of 2025 brings new challenges, Kia is prepared to build on the momentum gained in the first quarter of the year as we head towards a variety of exciting new product launches. These include EV4 and EV5, but also the launch of our Platform Beyond Vehicle business, which will see Kia electric vans delivered to first customers by year end.'
The story of Kia UK's best quarter of all time
Kia bolted out of the starting blocks in January 2025, recording its best-ever January with 10,813 sales throughout the month, and a 7.8% market share across both retail and fleet.
Sportage took an early lead in the sales charts as the UK's most popular car with 3,476 sales in January alone, while the Picanto led the A-segment in popularity and the EV3 started with a bang as the UK's most popular EV in retail sales; a crown it has held on to throughout the following months.
Kia finished January as the second best-selling brand overall and number one brand in sales of electrified vehicles.
February was a tamer month, while no less important. Sustained sales of Sportage, EV3, Picanto and Ceed family meant Kia maintained its position as the number two brand in the UK, number one for electrified sales, and Sportage remained the best-selling car of all, year-to-date.
By the end of March, Kia had recorded 35,063 new car sales year-to-date, giving the brand a Q1 market share of 6.0% and cementing its place as the 3rd best-selling car brand in the UK so far in 2025.
Kia's EV sales, driven by the EV3, EV6 and EV9, totalled more than 7,000 in Q1, giving Kia a 5.9% share of the UK's electric vehicle market, and overall EV sales were up 47% compared to the same period in 2024. The EV3 held its position as the best-selling EV within the retail market in the UK, and placed as the fourth best-selling EV in the UK overall.
Globally, throughout Q1 Kia posted sales of 772,351, and Sportage continued its status as Kia's global best-seller. As well as being a record-breaking month for Kia within the UK, Q1 2025 marked the brand's best ever quarter since automobile sales commenced in 1962.
A sign of things to come: Kia's busy start to 2025
Kia is off to a trailblazing start in 2025, commencing with the unveil of three new models at the 2025 Kia EV Day, including the EV4 and EV2 concept, reinforcing Kia's leadership in the electric vehicle market. The brand also unveiled the PV5 electric van at the 2025 Kia EV Day event, making its intentions clear of becoming a global leader in the electric van market over the coming years, spearheaded by the newly revealed model.
Along with the development of new products, Kia's current line-up has achieved major success award-wise in 2025. The Kia EV3, which sales began in January, has been the recipient of high-profile awards including 'UK Car of the Year 2024' and has been shortlisted for the overall prize of 2025 'World Car of the Year'.
Photo credit: Kia posted on conceptcarz.com
