Kia Announces 2025 First Quarter Business Results

• Kia posts 2025 Q1 global sales of 772,648 units, a 1.6% increase Y/y
• Q1 revenue at KRW 28.02 trillion, up 6.9% Y/y
• Q1 operating profit at KRW 3.01 trillion; operating profit margin of 10.7%
• Highest-ever quarterly revenue with an operating profit margin of over 10% for 10 consecutive quarters
• Global retail sales of electrified models increased by 10.7% to 174,000 units, driven by strong demand for HEV models
• Kia to further strengthen profitability through optimized operations by region, demand-based flexible production systems and efficient incentive strategies

Kia Corporation announced its 2025 first quarter business results.

For the first quarter of 2025, the company’s quarterly revenue increased 6.9 percent to KRW 28.02 trillion, recording its highest-ever quarterly revenue. This was supported by the company’s strong global sales, increased average selling price (ASP), and favorable exchange rates.

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Operating profit decreased 12.2 percent to KRW 3.01 trillion, with an operating profit margin of 10.7 percent. The company also recorded a net profit, including non-controlling interests, of KRW 2.39 trillion, down 14.8 percent compared with the same period last year.

Despite the company’s enriched product mix centered on high-margin and high-value-added models, stabilized raw material costs, and favorable exchange rates, Kia’s first quarter operating profit decreased year-over-year. This was due to the base effect of low 2024 incentives as well as the slowdown in industry demand growth.

The company still recorded an operating profit margin of over 10 percent for 10 consecutive quarters, since the fourth quarter of 2022.

In the first quarter of 2025, Kia reported global sales of 772,648 units, a 1.6 percent increase over its 2024 performance.

Sales increased in major regions including North America, led by the continued strong demand for hybrid (HEV) models, including the Carnival Hybrid and Sportage Hybrid. Sales also increased in India, driven by the successful launch of the Syros SUV, as well as in markets including the Middle East and Central and South America.

European sales decreased slightly due to the deferred demand ahead of the launch of Sportage PE, planned for the second quarter. Sales in Korea also decreased slightly, despite a growth in sales of the company’s hybrid and EV models, due to the discontinuation of the K3 subcompact sedan.

Sales of electrified vehicles

In the first quarter of 2025, Kia recorded global retail sales of 174,000 electrified vehicles (xEVs), including hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and all-electric vehicles (EV), representing a 10.7 percent increase from a year earlier.

Sales of Kia’s electrified vehicles accounted for 23.1 percent of the company’s total sales in the first quarter, an increase of 1.5 percentage points.

This increase was driven by strong demand for hybrid vehicles, with sales of 104,000 units, a 10.6 percent increase year over year. Plug-in hybrid sales stood at 14,000 units, a 26.3 percent decrease year over year. The company’s EV sales increased 27 percent to 56,000 units.

Outlooks

In 2025, Kia anticipates that global market uncertainties such as heightened geopolitical tensions and weakened consumer purchasing sentiment will persist. The company plans to continue to react flexibly, with appropriate inventory levels and demand-based production operations, while implementing incentive strategies centered on profitability and customer value.

In the Korean market, Kia will successfully launch the Kia EV4 and EV5 to strengthen its EV lineup, as well as continue to expand sales through its hybrid models. The company also aims to continue its sales momentum and expand its vehicle lineup through the Kia PV5 PBV model and Tasman, the company’s first pickup truck.

Kia will maintain efficient incentives through demand-based production operations in the US, while expanding its EV sales through local production of the Kia EV6 and EV9. The company also aims to enhance profitability by increasing the supply of hybrid models, such as the Sorento and Sportage SUVs, and Carnival MPV.

In Europe, following the successful launch of the EV3, Kia plans to expand its EV lineup and strengthen its electrification leadership with the introduction of the all-electric Kia EV4 and EV5, and its first PBV model, the Kia PV5. In India, the company will continue to leverage strong sales of the Syros SUV.

Kia will continue its sales growth in major markets through its appealing products, including the all-electric Kia EV3 SUV, which was named World Car of the Year at the 2025 World Car Awards. This cemented Kia’s global success, following the EV9, which won the World Car of the Year title in 2024. 

The company also recently announced its Plan S 2030 business strategy during the company’s 2025 CEO Investor Day, updated with growth strategies for new products and a focus on the company’s electrification commitment.

Kia 2025 Q1 Results

(Revenue / Operating Profit / Net Profit unit: KRW Billion)