Kia 2005 Annual Report Download - page 27

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27
2005 Annual Report
Driving Dynamics
Good news continues to
flow from the European
region where we achieved
the highest growth rates for
the third year running.
KIA Motors is continuing its explosive popularity in the Western
European automobile market. According to the ACEA (Association
des Constructeurs Europeens d'Automobiles), KIA Motors sold
231,961 vehicles in the 15 EU countries and 3 EFTA countries,
recording a growth rate of 39.7% over the previous year. This was
the top sales growth rate in Western Europe for the third year
straight. Growth rates of 54.9% were recorded in 2004, and
47.8% in 2003.
Our acceptance is widespread within the European region; we
achieved the highest growth rates in Austria, France and Spain.
Our compact designs, diesel lineup and strong distribution
network with 11 sales subsidiaries made this success possible.
One of the other major factors behind this high growth has been
the proactive introduction of strategic automobiles into the
European market. This included the new Pride (Rio) in 2005,
which followed up on the explosive popularity of the Morning
(Picanto) in 2004. Our Sportage model has also been well
received. The 2006 introduction of competitive new models such
as the new Carnival and Lotze (Magentis), coupled with the
completion of the Slovakia plant later in the year, bode well for us
as we seek to gain further trust and acceptance within European
market.
Our ‘Exciting & Enabling’ sports marketing campaign targeting
soccer and tennis events also helped us tap into dynamic new
customer segments.
The Power to Satisfy The Power to Excite
lineup and strong distribution netw ork made this success possible.