Seven Consecutive Years of Electric Vehicle Sales Growth
Entry into the Electric Vehicle Market with the Soul EV in 2014
Best-Selling Model Since Entry: Niro EV
Kia set a record last year by achieving seven consecutive years of growth in electric vehicle sales in Spain. Spain, which ranks second in automobile production in Europe after Germany, serves as a foothold for entering the European eco-friendly car market. Kia is solidifying its position as an eco-friendly car brand by continuously growing in this market.
According to industry sources on the 3rd, Kia sold 2,645 electric vehicles (retail basis) in Spain last year. This represents a 1.0% increase compared to the previous year, marking seven consecutive years of growth since selling 90 units in 2017.
On the 25th (local time), Eduardo Mosas, General Manager of Kia Spain, Alvaro Garcia Conde, Director of Dealer Development at Sperin Spain, and Santiago Sants, Dealer Representative, were talking with domestic reporters at the 'Integral Kia' dealership in Barcelona, Spain. (Provided by Kia)
Kia entered the Spanish electric vehicle market in 2014 with the launch of the Soul EV. After introducing the Niro EV in 2019, Kia expanded its electric vehicle lineup with the EV6 in 2021, the EV9 in 2023, and the EV3 in 2024.
In its first year of entry, Kia sold only 2 Soul EVs, but sales steadily increased with 90 units in 2017, 102 in 2018, 379 in 2019, and 875 in 2020. In 2021, Kia sold 1,085 EV6 units, surpassing 2,000 units in annual sales for the first time. Sales continued to rise with 2,213 units in 2022 and 2,620 units in 2023.
Over the 11 years since entering Spain, the best-selling model has been the Niro EV, with 6,513 units sold from 2019 through last January. This was followed by the EV6 with 2,874 units, the EV3 with 1,162 units, the Soul with 734 units, and the EV9 with 310 units sold.
Last year, a total of 58,859 electric vehicles were sold in Spain, marking a remarkable 224% growth over five years since recording 18,124 units in 2020.
The top-selling electric vehicle brand last year was Tesla, with 16,661 units sold. BMW followed with 3,966 units, BYD with 3,801 units, Mercedes-Benz with 3,470 units, Volvo with 3,241 units, and MG with 3,210 units.
Year | Kia Electric Vehicle Sales |
2014 | 2 |
2015 | 84 |
2016 | 92 |
2017 | 90 |
2018 | 102 |
2019 | 379 |
2020 | 875 |
2021 | 2048 |
2022 | 2213 |
2023 | 2620 |
2024 | 2645 |
January 2025 | 443 |
Last year, the EV3 gained great popularity in the Spanish market, recording the highest annual sales ever, but it ranked only 7th overall. However, the new car effect of the EV3 continued into January, with 493 units sold, achieving 2nd place following BYD (801 units).
Eduardo Mosas, General Manager of Kia Spain, explained, "Along with the perception of eco-friendly vehicles, the low maintenance cost makes electric vehicles more advantageous," adding, "Electric vehicles are growing in Europe, and since Kia makes good electric cars, there is a perception that Kia is synonymous with electric vehicles."
Kia expects to surpass cumulative sales of 900,000 eco-friendly vehicles in Spain this year. Since establishing its local subsidiary in 2004, Kia has sold approximately 860,000 units over 20 years. This year, Kia plans to aggressively target the Spanish market by prominently featuring electric vehicles such as the EV3, EV6, and EV9, as well as eco-friendly models like the Niro, Sportage Hybrid, and Sorento Hybrid.
Song Ho-sung, CEO of Kia, said, "The EV3 is a model that can sell at least 5,000 to 6,000 units per month in Europe and is expected to play a very significant role in Spain's electrification," adding, "With the release of the EV4 this year and the EV2 next year, Kia's market share in the Spanish electric vehicle market will naturally increase significantly."
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