Kia Sorento import to China hit by Korea strike

Shanghai, August 6 (Gasgoo.com) Kia Motors recently said that the upcoming summer strike by its workers will affect Hyundai and Kia's vehicle export supply, and the newly launched Kia Sorento's imports to China this year will be limited to 3,000 units, Beijing Times reported today.

Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group and its Korean workers have not reached any agreement over their wages and working conditions. The summer strike by the group's workers has staged for many years and is coming this summer. Although the Kia Sorento has been well received by Chinese customers, its new model's imports to China will be affected by the strike and the import supply will not exceed 3,000 units.

The new Sorento was released to the Chinese market last week and its sales target for this year was previously set at 2,000 units. But before the price is announced, Kia China has already received more than 1,000 orders for the car, and Kia has decided to lift the sales target to 3,000 units, which may be insufficient to meet the rising demand.

As its production capacity will get better next year, Kia Motors will raise its supply for imports to China. Later this year, Kia China will also introduce a Kia Coup sedan model to the Chinese market, with a lower retail price than other models of its kind.

Kia Motors said it will increase the number of its import car 4S stores in mainland China to 37 from the current 34, and more dealerships will be set up in western China.

Last year, Kia Motors sold a total of 42,008 imported and locally made cars in the Chinese market, and its China sales are expected to grow by 30% this year.