Kia PH teases two unboxings and targets 4K units in yearend sales

MANILA: Kia Philippines is set to launch a new model in the fourth quarter, will open four dealerships by Q3, and is expecting to hit a modest sales target of 4,000 units by the end of 2020, all while the world is dealing with a health and economic crisis.

To call Kia president Manny Aligada optimistic would be an understatement but his math isn’t wrong, the market is trending up, and they’re banking on three models that are packaged in very easy-to-own payment schemes.

First the numbers. Domestic auto sales went down by 52% year-on-year and it affected all brands, some more than others. Sales of Kia were cut in half — with 952 units sold in May 2020 compared to 1,896 the year before.

After an all-time low of some 133 total vehicles sales in April, it shot up by 3,500% in May 2020 and the forecast is it will hit 18,000+ units by this month.

Aligada expects the industry to finish strong with 275,000 total sales (down 65% from initial, pre-COVID-19 estimate of 420,000), and he hopes that 4,000 units of those are Kia branded.

Kia PH is hinging its bet on three units, the Picanto, Soluto and the K2500 commercial vehicle. Aside from being the most affordable and versatile in the lineup, studies done locally indicate that these are the models getting the most interest.

Customer feedback and inquiry about entry-level units have been very high according to Aligada and he sees displaced workers and SME (small to medium enterprise) owners, whether its food products, sanitation services, supplies, will need a versatile vehicle for deliveries and hauling.

Easy ownership plans are in place. For the Picanto, a buyer can choose between a very low downpayment of P1,000 or a low monthly payment of P12,115. If you seek a bigger unit, the Soluto can be had for a low down payment of P16,000 or a low monthly amortization of P13,655. Business owner can get the K2500 for as low as P18,000 or a cash discount of up to P70,000.

That isn’t the only discount to be had. Kia PH has huge markdowns — some reaching hundreds of thousands of pesos — on all units including favorites such as the Carnival, Sorento, even the Sportage GT-Line.

Its dealer network is set to expand to 34 by the end of the third quarter with the opening of four locations: Fairview (NCR), Marikina (NCR), Isabela (Region 2), and Bonifacio Global City (NCR). But it's not stopping there. Four more are planned by the end of 2020 or early 2021 at the very latest.

To increase accessibility to customers, Kia PH’s virtual showroom is set to welcome guests by the end of Q4. Browse the showroom digitally and connect with a dealership of your choice or send an inquiry and a salesperson will get in touch with you.

Finally, another "unboxing" is forthcoming in Q4 of 2020. The teaser photo shows a crossover-type vehicle with the façade silhouette eerily similar to the Rio, from which the Stonic is based on. The Stonic is an entry-level compact crossover that slots right under the Seltos. Engine options are a 1.0L turbo (gas), 1.2L (gas), 1.4L (gas), and a 1.6L (diesel). For perspective the Seltos uses a 2.0L engine. Kia doesn’t have a model in this segment so this is a logical choice.

“The coronavirus and lockdown may have taken their toll on the local and global economy. Yet, we at Kia Philippines, are confident that we will overcome these with sales and aftersales initiatives, continuous expansion of our dealer network, entering into the digital age with a virtual showroom, and an unboxing of an all-new model. All these are designed to not only jumpstart our brand but the economy as well,” said Aligada.

Photos from Kia

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