Kia Motors America Announces Best Month Ever in May 2008

IRVINE, Calif., June 3, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced its best sales month ever for the second consecutive month with record May sales of 31,047 units, an increase of nine percent over the same period last year, and year-to-date sales of 129,327 units.

2008 Kia Sorento

May's record sales were led by Kia Spectra and Kia Optima, which both had their best months ever with 9,407 and 8,197 units sold respectively, increases of 10.5 and 120.8 percent over same period last year. Kia Rio also continued with strong sales in its best month of the year at 4,474 units, a 28.6 percent increase over the same period last year.

"With gas prices continuing to rise, record sales of the fuel-efficient Spectra and Optima are proof that consumers are recognizing Kia's value now more than ever," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG). "Achieving the best month ever for two months in a row is the result of enhancement efforts to Kia's brand image and the Kia dealer network's total endeavors in a difficult market environment to sell more vehicles."

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2007, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of record U.S. sales. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Kia Motors America is the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site -- kia.com.

                               MONTH OF MAY              YEAR-TO-DATE
  Model                     2008         2007         2008         2007
  Rio                      4,474        3,479       17,624       13,067
  Spectra                  9,407        8,512       35,826       30,208
  Optima                   8,197        3,712       21,943       17,675
  Amanti                     182          748          973        4,014
  Sportage                 3,505        4,678       17,251       20,088
  Sorento                  1,695        3,111        9,307       16,073
  Sedona                   2,021        2,500       12,601       21,122
  Rondo                    1,566        1,754       13,802        5,857

  Total                   31,047       28,494      129,327      128,104

Source: Kia Motors America

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