Kia Rom Auto, the importer of Korean brand KIA on the domestic market, last year sold almost 1,200 cars, 20% above estimates.
"We had about eight-nine months at our disposal last year, since we started properly operating in March," says Ionut Gheorghe, the company''s communications manager.
Kia Rom Auto took over imports of the South-Korean brand on the Romanian market in late 2004. The company had announced a 1,000-unit sales target, but final figures brought a 20% increase from initial projections.
"The best-selling models were Sportage, with more than 300 units, Sorento with 258 units and Picanto with 210 units," Kia Rom Auto officials maintain.
For the current year, the importer estimates the sales will double.
"This year, our 20-dealer network has the entire year at its disposal and, furthermore, the brand enjoys higher recognition on the market following promotional investments made last year," Gheorghe added. The importer last autumn announced it would start operating through its own leasing company, after having worked with several domestic leasing companies.
At present, almost all Kia cars are acquired through leasing, as they are manufactured outside European Union countries, and this entails custom duties standing at 30%.
"Our portfolio will also include zero custom duties cars towards the end of the year, given that we''ll finalise the Kia plant in Slovakia," Gheorghe said.
Moreover, to boost sales, officials also announced the launch of a buy-back system, through which old cars belonging to customers will be received, evaluated and considered as a down payment for a new car.
The Kia importer last year launched the new generations of Sportage and Rio. Kia Rom Auto''s sales network currently includes 20 dealers in all the regions of Romania. ionut.bonoiu@zf.ro
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