Kia Motors' recent entry into the Mexican market is paying dividends. The company, which has celebrated its first anniversary of sales in Mexico, has announced that the Niro, its first Hybrid Utility Vehicle (HUV), will be sold there by the end of 2016 to strengthen its product line-up in the country.

Kia Motors Mexico sold 34,517 units during the first 12 months of operation in Mexico, thereby becoming the ninth best-selling brand in the country. The production of the Forte started last May in the modern Kia plant in Nuevo Leòn, which produces up to 300,000 cars a year, 20 percent of which are for the local market.

"This has been a year of great challenges and also of extraordinary accomplishments for Kia Motors, exceeding our own expectations," said Seong Bae Kim, president and CEO of Kia Motors Mexico. "We are very happy and proud to have successfully established a comprehensive retail dealer network throughout the country, providing world-class service to Mexican consumers," he said.

As part of the celebration of Kia Mexico’s first anniversary, the automaker opened 25 new dealers in 21 new cities this week in record time. The carmaker is now targeting sales of 45,000 units in 2016, which is equivalent to a local market share of over three percent. By the end of this year, seven signature models (Sportage, Sorento, Cerato, Rio, Optima, Soul, and Niro) will be available in Mexico.

"We have had a very successful year, all the more significant in a market where more than 40 brands compete,” said Horacio Chavez, managing director of Kia Motors Mexico. "However, our challenge goes on and we work every day to strengthen the brand with the best products and the best customer service. Our aim is to achieve five percent market share in the next four years," he said.

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