Jakarta – Kia is closing in on a major global sales milestone in 2026, with the South Korean automaker selling nearly 1.93 million vehicles during the first seven months of the year. The company recorded 1,929,417 units globally between January and July, representing a 4.3 percent increase compared with the 1,850,343 units sold during the same period in 2025.
The latest figures highlight the continued strength of Kia’s global business, particularly in the SUV segment. The company also posted a strong result in July, when global sales reached 298,037 units, up 13.4 percent from 262,807 units recorded in July 2025.
July marked another month of year-on-year growth for Kia, extending its annual sales growth streak to five consecutive months. The result also puts the automaker within reach of the two-million-unit mark before the end of the year, although its ability to cross that threshold will depend on sales performance during the remaining months.
Sportage and Seltos Lead Kia’s SUV Momentum
SUVs remain a major contributor to Kia’s global sales performance. In July alone, the Kia Sportage recorded 52,714 units worldwide, making it the company’s best-selling model for the month.
The Sportage also performed strongly outside South Korea, where it sold 47,333 units in July. That represented a 12.2 percent increase compared with the same month a year earlier.
The Kia Seltos was another important contributor, recording global sales of 36,429 units in July. Outside Korea, the compact SUV accounted for 29,002 units, putting it behind the Sportage among Kia’s leading models in international markets.
The two SUVs illustrate the importance of Kia’s global SUV lineup as consumer demand continues to favor vehicles that combine passenger capacity, practicality and higher driving positions.
Kia’s sedan lineup also contributed to the July result. The Kia K4 recorded 20,789 units globally, with the model becoming one of the company’s strongest performers during the month.
Overseas Markets Account for Most July Sales
Kia’s performance outside its home market was particularly significant in July. Sales outside Korea reached 242,556 units, an increase of 11.6 percent compared with July 2025.
That figure represented roughly 81 percent of Kia’s total global sales for the month, highlighting how important international markets have become to the company’s overall volume.
The Sportage led Kia’s overseas sales, followed by the Seltos. The strong performance of both models gives Kia a broad presence across markets where SUVs have become an increasingly important part of new-car demand.
Kia’s domestic market also delivered a strong result. Sales in South Korea reached 54,604 units in July, representing a 21.3 percent year-on-year increase.
The Seltos was the best-selling Kia model in its home market, with 7,427 units sold. Its sales increased 50.9 percent compared with July 2025.
The Carnival ranked second with 6,917 units, while the Sorento followed with 6,153 units.
Electrified Vehicle Sales Continue to Grow
Kia’s July performance was not driven solely by conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. Electrified models also recorded significant growth, particularly in the Korean market.
Kia sold 31,695 hybrid and electric vehicles in South Korea during July, an increase of 44.6 percent from the same period last year.
The figure reflects the growing role of electrified powertrains within Kia’s product strategy. Hybrid vehicles and battery-electric models are becoming increasingly important as automakers respond to changing consumer preferences and emissions regulations across different markets.
Kia has been expanding its electrified vehicle portfolio while continuing to offer conventional internal-combustion models, allowing the company to address markets with different levels of EV adoption.
Indonesia Becomes Part of the Global Seltos Story
Indonesia is among the international markets contributing to Kia’s global presence. The Seltos is particularly relevant to the Indonesian market following the introduction of the all-new Seltos at the 2026 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show.
The latest Seltos brings Kia’s global SUV design and product strategy into one of Southeast Asia’s largest automotive markets. Its positioning around style, space and comfort also places it within a segment that remains highly competitive in Indonesia.
Jong Sung Park, CEO of Kia Sales Indonesia, said the company’s global performance demonstrates strong consumer confidence in the brand and highlighted the Seltos’ established position across international markets.
“The nearly two-million-unit milestone in the first seven months shows the strong trust consumers have in Kia across various markets,” Park said.
For Kia, the next few months will determine whether the company can turn its strong first seven months into another record year. With nearly 1.93 million vehicles already sold, continued demand for models such as the Sportage and Seltos, combined with growing electrified vehicle sales, could provide the momentum needed to push Kia beyond the two-million-unit mark in 2026.