Kia Motors America Reports Record November Sales

• Soul Sales Soar with the Totally Transformed 2014MY Urban Passenger Vehicle in Showrooms; Annual Sales Surpass 500,000 Units for Second Straight Year

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia Motors America (KMA) today reported record November sales of 45,411 units as the brand made good on its promise to deliver seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles this calendar year with the 2014 Forte Koup and Forte5 now in showrooms. The all-new second-generation Soul and the refreshed 2014 model year Optima midsize sedan led the way with 12,870 and 10,871 units sold, respectively. Year-to-date sales crossed the 500,000 unit mark for the second time in company history.

Kia's aggressive new vehicle launch cadence will continue throughout 2014 with the scheduled Spring arrival of the all-new 2015 K900[1] rear-wheel-drive flagship sedan, which was recently unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show. A long-awaited all-new minivan and the company's first-ever electric vehicle also are scheduled to launch in 2014.

Optima starting to show its age, but overall solid.

This is a conjecture - but this is where ex Pontiac and Saturn owners are going. The brand has enough quirkiness for a Saturn and yet is considered discount enough like what Pontiac had become in the near past.

Vue -> Sportage or Sorento

Outlook -> Probably stayed within GM, probably Traverse or Acadia

Torrent -> Terrain

G6 -> Optima

Aura -> probably Fusion or Mazda 6

Vibe -> Soul... maybe

G3 -> Whatever's cheapest this month

G5 -> Whatever's cheapest this month

Astra -> probably something from VW.

Sky/Solstice -> Probably still holding on to it for collector value.

I could see Saturn or Pontiac owners going to Kia. Kia has a bit more of a sporty line than Hyundai and the Soul has that fun, quirky look to it, so they deviate from the boring mainstream cars. The Optima I am surprised doesn't sell a little more, it is a good car. The Soul shows how people love crossover type vehicles. The Cadenza doesn't sell too well, you wonder what the K900 will do.