Kia Achieves Record European EV Sales in Q1...EV3 Leads the Way

Electric Vehicles Account for Over 20% of Kia's Sales in Europe

Kia recorded its highest-ever quarterly sales in the European electric vehicle market in the first quarter of this year.

Kia EV3. Provided by Kia

According to Kia on May 6, the company sold 27,761 electric vehicles in Europe in the first quarter of this year, marking a 17% increase compared to the previous record of 23,794 units in the third quarter of 2023.

For the first time, electric vehicles accounted for more than 20% of Kia’s total sales in Europe. Riding this momentum, Kia ranked as the sixth-largest brand in the European electric vehicle market in the first quarter of this year.

The strong performance of Kia’s electric vehicles was led by the compact electric SUV, the Kia EV3 (EV3), which was launched in August 2023. The EV3 accounted for 64% of Kia’s electric vehicle sales in the first quarter of this year, with 17,878 units sold?a 153% surge compared to 7,053 units in the fourth quarter of last year.

In the ranking of best-selling electric vehicles in Europe for the first quarter of this year, as surveyed by JATO Dynamics, the EV3 placed fifth, following the Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, Volkswagen ID.4, and Volkswagen ID.7. The EV3 was also recently named "World Car of the Year" at the 2025 World Car Awards.

Kia plans to strengthen its electric vehicle lineup in Europe this year by launching models such as the EV4, EV5, and PV5. The company will also establish a European electric vehicle production system at Autoland Slovakia, which will begin operation in the second half of this year.

A Kia representative stated, “We achieved record sales in the European market by launching a diverse range of electric vehicles, including the EV3,” and added, “We aim to become a leading player in the European electric vehicle market through the introduction of new electric vehicle models and the establishment of a local production system.”