Latest news with #Sportage
CTV News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Kia aims to win US market share as tariffs force rivals to pull back
SEOUL — South Korea's Kia Corp said on Friday that it aims to increase its U.S. sales and market share in the second half, driven by sales of new hybrid and gasoline vehicles and as some rivals are expected to raise prices to cope with tariffs. Kia, which together with affiliate Hyundai Motor ranks as the world's no. three carmaker, said its operating profit in the second quarter slumped by a quarter as it took a hit of 786 billion won ($570 million) from U.S. tariffs and warned of a bigger blow in the second half. Still, it increased April to June U.S. sales by five per cent as consumers brought forward some car purchases due to concerns that U.S. tariffs would lead to higher vehicle prices. Kia also credited solid sales of its new Carnival hybrid sport utility vehicles for the rise. It said it aimed to increase its U.S. sales by seven to eight per cent in the second half of the year even as overall auto sales in the U.S. market are expected to slump by 10 per cent, leading to a gain in market share to over six per cent from 5.1 per cent in the first half. It expects Carnival and K4 small car sales to drive the gains while some Japanese automakers are raising prices. While Kia and Hyundai import about two-thirds sold in the U.S. market, making them more exposed to U.S. tariffs than major rivals, Kia said on Friday that it has not yet made detailed plans to raise prices, instead focusing on growing its U.S. business. 'We believe that we will be able to use the difficult environment as a good opportunity to level up (our market share and sales), and that's Kia's strength,' Kia chief financial officer Kim Seung-jun said during a conference call. Samsung Securities analyst Esther Yim said Kia's strategy to boost sales of hybrids, which are imported from South Korea, could weigh on its profit, but that could be in part offset by Kia's efforts to limit the impact. To mitigate tariffs' effects, Kia's South Korean factories will divert some of its shipments from the United States to other markets, such as Canada, the carmaker said. Kia also said its U.S. factory in Georgia aims to shift some electric vehicle production to other vehicles like Sportage, Sorento and Telluride, as the United States is set to end its EV subsidies at the end of September. Kia shares were down 0.9 per cent. (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin and Heekyong Yang; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Tom Hogue and Tomasz Janowski)
Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Kia aims to win US market share as tariffs force rivals to pull back
South Korea's Kia Corp said on Friday that it aims to increase its US sales and market share in the second half, driven by sales of new hybrid and gasoline vehicles and as some rivals are expected to raise prices to cope with tariffs. Kia, which together with affiliate Hyundai Motor ranks as the world's no. 3 carmaker, said its operating profit in the second quarter slumped by a quarter as it took a hit of 786 billion won ($570 million) from US tariffs and warned of a bigger blow in the second half. Still, it increased April-June US sales by 5 per cent as consumers brought forward some car purchases due to concerns that US tariffs would lead to higher vehicle prices. Kia also credited solid sales of its new Carnival hybrid sport utility vehicles for the rise. It said it aimed to increase its US sales by 7 per cent to 8 per cent in the second half of the year even as overall auto sales in the US market are expected to slump by 10 per cent, leading to a gain in market share to over 6 per cent from 5.1 per cent in the first half. It expects Carnival and K4 small car sales to drive the gains while some Japanese automakers are raising prices. While Kia and Hyundai import about two-thirds sold in the US market, making them more exposed to US tariffs than major rivals, Kia said on Friday that it has not yet made detailed plans to raise prices, instead focusing on growing its US business. "We believe that we will be able to use the difficult environment as a good opportunity to level up (our market share and sales), and that's Kia's strength," Kia chief financial officer Kim Seung-jun said during a conference call. Samsung Securities analyst Esther Yim said Kia's strategy to boost sales of hybrids, which are imported from South Korea, could weigh on its profit, but that could be in part offset by Kia's efforts to limit the impact. To mitigate tariffs' effects, Kia's South Korean factories will divert some of its shipments from the United States to other markets, such as Canada, the carmaker said. Kia also said its US factory in Georgia aims to shift some electric vehicle production to other vehicles like Sportage, Sorento and Telluride, as the United States is set to end its EV subsidies at the end of September. Kia shares were down 0.9 per cent.
Reuters
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Kia aims to win US market share as tariffs force rivals to pull back
SEOUL, July 25 (Reuters) - South Korea's Kia Corp ( opens new tab said on Friday that it aims to increase its U.S. sales and market share in the second half, driven by sales of new hybrid and gasoline vehicles and as some rivals are expected to raise prices to cope with tariffs. Kia, which together with affiliate Hyundai Motor ( opens new tab ranks as the world's no. 3 carmaker, said its operating profit in the second quarter slumped by a quarter as it took a hit of 786 billion won ($570 million) from U.S. tariffs and warned of a bigger blow in the second half. Still, it increased April-June U.S. sales by 5% as consumers brought forward some car purchases due to concerns that U.S. tariffs would lead to higher vehicle prices. Kia also credited solid sales of its new Carnival hybrid sport utility vehicles for the rise. It said it aimed to increase its U.S. sales by 7% to 8% in the second half of the year even as overall auto sales in the U.S. market are expected to slump by 10%, leading to a gain in market share to over 6% from 5.1% in the first half. It expects Carnival and K4 small car sales to drive the gains while some Japanese automakers are raising prices. While Kia and Hyundai import about two-thirds sold in the U.S. market, making them more exposed to U.S. tariffs than major rivals, Kia said on Friday that it has not yet made detailed plans to raise prices, instead focusing on growing its U.S. business. "We believe that we will be able to use the difficult environment as a good opportunity to level up (our market share and sales), and that's Kia's strength," Kia chief financial officer Kim Seung-jun said during a conference call. Samsung Securities analyst Esther Yim said Kia's strategy to boost sales of hybrids, which are imported from South Korea, could weigh on its profit, but that could be in part offset by Kia's efforts to limit the impact. To mitigate tariffs' effects, Kia's South Korean factories will divert some of its shipments from the United States to other markets, such as Canada, the carmaker said. Kia also said its U.S. factory in Georgia aims to shift some electric vehicle production to other vehicles like Sportage, Sorento and Telluride, as the United States is set to end its EV subsidies at the end of September. Kia shares were down 0.9%. ($1 = 1,378.0800 won)
Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Kia aims to win US market share as tariffs force rivals to pull back
South Korea's Kia Corp said on Friday that it aims to increase its U.S. sales and market share in the second half, driven by sales of new hybrid and gasoline vehicles and as some rivals are expected to raise prices to cope with tariffs. Kia, which together with affiliate Hyundai Motor ranks as the world's no. 3 carmaker, said its operating profit in the second quarter slumped by a quarter as it took a hit of 786 billion won ($570 million) from U.S. tariffs and warned of a bigger blow in the second half. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Design Thinking Degree Management others MBA Artificial Intelligence PGDM Operations Management Data Science Data Science Project Management Healthcare Data Analytics CXO MCA Product Management healthcare Technology Digital Marketing Others Cybersecurity Leadership Public Policy Finance Skills you'll gain: Duration: 25 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK PCP DTIM Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 22 Weeks IIM Indore CERT-IIMI DTAI Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Still, it increased April-June U.S. sales by 5% as consumers brought forward some car purchases due to concerns that U.S. tariffs would lead to higher vehicle prices. Kia also credited solid sales of its new Carnival hybrid sport utility vehicles for the rise. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Own Co-live Spaces in Whitefield | Starting from 42L+ Sumadhura Learn More It said it aimed to increase its U.S. sales by 7% to 8% in the second half of the year even as overall auto sales in the U.S. market are expected to slump by 10%, leading to a gain in market share to over 6% from 5.1% in the first half. It expects Carnival and K4 small car sales to drive the gains while some Japanese automakers are raising prices. Live Events While Kia and Hyundai import about two-thirds sold in the U.S. market, making them more exposed to U.S. tariffs than major rivals, Kia said on Friday that it has not yet made detailed plans to raise prices, instead focusing on growing its U.S. business. "We believe that we will be able to use the difficult environment as a good opportunity to level up (our market share and sales), and that's Kia's strength," Kia chief financial officer Kim Seung-jun said during a conference call. Samsung Securities analyst Esther Yim said Kia's strategy to boost sales of hybrids, which are imported from South Korea, could weigh on its profit, but that could be in part offset by Kia's efforts to limit the impact. To mitigate tariffs' effects, Kia's South Korean factories will divert some of its shipments from the United States to other markets, such as Canada, the carmaker said. Kia also said its U.S. factory in Georgia aims to shift some electric vehicle production to other vehicles like Sportage, Sorento and Telluride, as the United States is set to end its EV subsidies at the end of September. Kia shares were down 0.9%.
Stuff.tv
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Stuff.tv
The fab new Kia Sportage Hybrid will keep me going until I get my hands on the plug-in
Stuff Verdict The Kia Sportage in GT-Line hybrid guise packs in plenty of appeal although the forthcoming PHEV version might suit school run folks slightly better. Pros Tried and tested format is nicely honed Respectable performance from all versions Lots of room and plenty of comfort too Cons There's no fully electric option Can feel a little wafty when pushed Exterior looks might prove divisive The Sportage has gone gangbusters for Kia over its many generations; I liked earlier editions of the family-focused SUV and so did plenty of others based on the large numbers of them I see being driven around. It's no surprise, then, to see the Korean carmaker stick to the format – albeit in a much fresher incarnation here. The new edition is a much stronger package, with lots of in-car tech complimenting those already solid practical foundations. There's lots of strong competition in the family SUV arena, with the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga and fellow Korean brand Hyundai with its Tucson, all vying for attention. However, Kia is coming on strong on the pricing front, with prices starting at £30,885 for the base level petrol model. I've just been driving a pre-production Kia Sportage Hybrid though, which comes in at £36,925 and is my own preferred pick of the new crop. Kia will also introduce a PHEV edition of the Sportage later on down the line. If it's anything like the rather good hybrid, I'd probably head for that one instead as I'm lucky enough to have a home charger. In the meantime, there are three model variants to choose from, starting out with the Pure, followed by the GT-Line and topped off with the snazzy GT-Line S. How we test cars Every electric car reviewed on Stuff is tested on a range of road surfaces and, where possible, in varying weather conditions. We use our years of experience to compare with rivals and assess ergonomics, technology features and general usability. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products. Find out more about how we test and rate products. The styling I like the continuity of the current Kia range and the styling of the new Sportage is on a par and just as impressive as any of the angular lines seen on the likes of the Kia EV3 or Kia EV9. Things get off to a cracking start with the front end. There's quite a lot going on and the imposing grille and the quite dramatic lights might not be to everyone's approval. I like the overall effect though, and I also think this car looks great in plain old white. And that's from someone who doesn't like white cars. However, Kia's so-called 'opposites united' design approach works to even better effect on the duo tone models with a nice line on colour contrast and funky alloys across the range including 19s on the GT-Line hybrid driven here. I loved the chunky door mirrors too, which offered up a good view backwards to compliment the generally good sight lines delivered by the sizeable expanse of glass all round. As usual, things taper towards the back and there's some compromise to be had, but overall, the high-riding position makes it easy to get the Sportage in and out of less generous spaces. Around at the back, there's a very generous boot hiding behind the neatly styled tailgate. Meanwhile, the interior feels like a real success story with an excellent combination of materials and low-key trim colours. The dashboard is dominated by lots of kit that will be familiar if you've already sampled recent Kia's and it's all easy to use and works as it should. After driving the GT-Line hybrid, I was also really impressed with the comfort levels. Those front seats were really accommodating and the room in the back is very decent too. The drive Kia is offering the Sportage in a range of powertrains, from a meat-and-potatoes 1.6 turbocharged petrol, a mild hybrid as well as a self-charging hybrid and a soon-to-arrive plug-in hybrid armed with a 13.8kWh battery. Anyone wanting full electric with similar dimensions and practicality will have to opt for the similarly soon-to-arrive Kia EV5, due later in the year. Driving the Kia Sportage GT-Line hybrid was everything I'd expected from such a proven workhorse. Sure, there's a little bit of roll and a touch of bounce from the suspension if this car is pushed but, driven casually as it probably would be in everyday family ownership scenarios, the Kia Sportage is a very comfortable car. Performance is fine too, with enough oomph for times when it's needed but, equally, clever use of the power for delivering great fuel economy. I also quite like the circular twist-and-go drive selector located in the central console. This is certainly different to other Korean models, where drive options are on the column, but this format worked well for me. The Sportage was also a doddle to park, with light steering making it an easy thing to wend around city streets. The suite of camera views made reversing into tight spots no big deal either, which when you consider this car is a mid-size, feels all the more impressive. The technology I'm pretty happy with what Kia has going on in its cabins for the current range, with the dashboard of the new Sportage being dominated by a now-familiar 12.3in touchscreen infotainment screen. I also like the way it works, with good levels of control options both in the screen and in the long touch button panel, which sits immediately below it. These offer easy access to climate controls and navigation options. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also present. My test car came with lots of additional goodies, like heated and cooled seats, with the latter option being mighty handy in the hot temperatures. There's other neat stuff too, like the way the instrument panel shows the view down the side of the car when either indicator is on, which has been present on Kia's for a while now. I still think it's a nice touch, although I'm not sure just how useful people find it if they already use their door mirrors. Kia Sportage verdict I think Kia has got the Sportage just about right now and there's something for everyone in the powertrain department. I'll personally be heading in the direction of the plug-in edition when that arrives, with its ability to offer 40 miles of all-electric range being perfect for my needs. However, the GT-Line hybrid car seen here is an excellent SUV that offers a decent driving experience, oodles of practicality plus enough storage space to make it a proper family car option. Stuff Says… Score: 4/5 The Kia Sportage in GT-Line hybrid guise packs in plenty of appeal although the forthcoming PHEV version might suit school run folks slightly better. Pros Tried and tested format is nicely honed Respectable performance from all versions Lots of room and plenty of comfort too Cons There's no fully electric option Can feel a little wafty when pushed Exterior looks might prove divisive Kia Sportage technical specifications Powertrain petrol engine + permanent magnet synchronous motor Battery 1.49 kWh Power 177 bhp Torque 184lb-ft 0-62mph 8.1sec Top speed 121mph Cargo volume 587 litres
