Kia Australia has achieved its one millionth vehicle sale through the delivery of a Denim Blue Tasman X-Pro Dual Cab to Queensland customers Andrea and James Allendorf at Motorama Kia Moorooka.
The milestone delivery took place on 3 September, marking 37 years since Kia first entered the Australian market in 1988 with the Rocsta model through private distributors.
The Allendorfs, who own Internal Demolitions, received their fifth Kia vehicle as part of the landmark sale. James Allendorf says the family has strong confidence in the brand, having previously owned a Carnival and other Kia models.
“Our first Kia purchase was a Kia Carnival, and this (Tasman) is now our fifth Kia in the family. True story, we didn’t even test drive the Tasman. We drove past Motorama and then went and sat in one, and knew we wanted it,” Allendorf says.
Accelerated growth trajectory
Kia’s journey to one million sales has accelerated significantly in recent years. The brand reached 500,000 total sales in 2018, taking 30 years to achieve that milestone. The second 500,000 sales were completed in just seven years.
Kia Australia became a direct subsidiary of the South Korean manufacturer in 2006, having previously operated through import distributors Itochu and Ateco since 1988.
The brand achieved its first top-three sales ranking in Australia in 2022 and surpassed 80,000 annual sales for the first time in 2024. Kia projects 90,000 sales for 2025, representing a 267% increase from the 33,736 vehicles sold in 2015.
Chief Operating Officer Dennis Piccoli says the brand’s evolution has been driven by product development and changing market perceptions.
“The Kia brand has gone from strength to strength, thriving in a very competitive and challenging local market. The products have evolved, perceptions of the brand have changed, and these two factors have played an important role in Kia’s continuing growth,” Piccoli says.
Dealer network recognition
Chief Executive Officer Damien Meredith credits the dealer network for the milestone achievement, with representatives from Motorama joining Kia ambassadors Pat Rafter and Darren Lockyer for the handover ceremony.
“Reaching one million new car sales is a testament to the hard work and loyalty that each of our dealer network partners has placed in the Kia brand. We certainly couldn’t reach this milestone without our customers from over the years,” Meredith says.
Kia’s growth has been supported by the introduction of a seven-year warranty in 2014, a local tuning programme led by Australian engineer Graeme Gambold, and a refreshed brand identity in 2021. The brand’s lineup spans from the Picanto micro car to the Carnival people mover and the recently launched Tasman light commercial vehicle.
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