Summary
- Kia and Hyundai have been exceptions among legacy automakers in the electric vehicle space for over a decade
- Kia is set to unveil a new competitive electric car, the EV4, which is expected to be priced attractively for the mass market
- Despite the potential of the EV4, Kia faces challenges in climbing the ranks to become one of the top 10 selling plugin vehicle auto brands
- Kia would need to significantly increase sales of its expanding EV lineup to compete with top-selling brands like Tesla
- Kia could focus on advertising, social media presence, and dealer support to boost EV sales and differentiate itself in the market
Article
Kia and Hyundai have been exceptions to the criticism of legacy automakers when it comes to electric vehicles. Kia, in particular, has seen success in the electric vehicle market, with the EV6, EV9, and now the upcoming EV4 gaining attention and awards for their designs and performance. The EV4 is positioned to be a competitive mass-market choice, filling the gap between the EV6 and EV3 models. The recent press release from Kia highlights the elegance and futurism of the EV4’s design, hinting at its specs and pricing positioning it attractively in the market.
In terms of sales numbers, Kia has some ground to make up if it wants to break into the top 10 selling plugin vehicle auto brands. With nearly 269,000 plugin vehicle sales in 2024, Kia still lags behind the 10th place Mercedes. In December sales, Kia was 19th, facing competition from Chinese EV brands as well. The challenge to climb the rankings seems to be growing, but with a strong lineup of EVs like the EV3, EV4, EV6, and EV9, Kia could potentially aim for higher sales numbers to secure a spot in the top 10.
To increase sales and market share, Kia could consider positioning itself better against Tesla’s competition through advertising and social media campaigns. Highlighting the advantages of electric vehicles in terms of driving experience, technology, and operational costs could help Kia differentiate itself in the market. Convincing its dealers to prioritize EV sales over gas cars in more markets could also boost sales. Ultimately, the question remains about how many units of Kia’s expanding EV lineup it could realistically aim to sell in a month or year, and what strategies could be implemented to achieve those targets.
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