Kia India Posts Record August Wholesale of 29,042 Units, Up 48% from Last Year

Kia India dispatched 29,042 units in August 2026, a 48.1% increase from the 19,608 units recorded in the same month a year earlier. The figure is the company's highest-ever wholesale for the month of August since it began operations in the country. Year-to-date wholesales for 2026 stand at 220,991 units through August, compared with 183,882 units over the same period in 2025, a rise of 20.1%.

The Seltos and Sonet continued to drive the bulk of volumes. The Seltos has averaged more than 10,000 units a month since January 2026, while the Sonet has maintained steady demand in the sub-compact SUV segment.

The newly launched Syros EV has added to the company's electric vehicle portfolio. Kia India now offers electrified options across multiple segments, including the Carens Clavis EV and the imported EV6 and EV9. In August 2025, Kia India's monthly EV retail sales reached 441 units — its highest to that point — driven largely by the July 2025 launch of the Carens Clavis EV, which is the most affordable seven-seat all-electric MPV in the Indian market, priced from Rs 17.99 lakh. The Syros EV, introduced subsequently, extends that portfolio further into 2026.

To support EV adoption, Kia India offers an assured buyback programme, a Battery-as-a-Service option, and a lifetime high-voltage battery warranty, which the company positions as responses to customer concerns around resale value, long-term battery performance, and upfront cost.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Kia India, attributed August's performance to the continued demand for its core models alongside early customer acceptance of its electric range. He added that the upcoming launch of the Sorento is intended to strengthen the company's position in the premium SUV category.

Kia India is set to launch the Sorento on September 4, 2026. The model will be the company's first hybrid SUV for the Indian market and will also be offered with a diesel powertrain. It is targeted at buyers in the three-row premium SUV segment, where Kia does not currently have a product.

Kia India began operations in August 2019 after setting up a manufacturing facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, with an installed annual capacity of 400,000 units. The company has cumulatively dispatched close to 1.9 million vehicles from that plant, of which over 367,000 have been exported. Its sales and service network spans 910 touchpoints across 418 cities, supported by 137 certified pre-owned outlets.