New Delhi: Kia India has reported its highest-ever May sales since entering the Indian market, registering wholesale volumes of 27,586 units in May 2026. The company posted a strong 23.6% year-on-year growth compared to 22,315 units sold in May 2025, proving once again that Indian buyers still have plenty of space in their hearts, garages and EMIs for SUVs.
The company’s year-to-date performance also remained strong, with Kia India selling 139,197 units in 2026 so far, compared to 121,514 units during the same period last year. This translates into a 14.6% growth, supported by steady demand across its model range and continued focus on premium, technology-led mobility.
Kia said the growth momentum was led by popular models such as the Seltos and Sonet, while newer products including the Carens Clavis, Clavis EV and MY26 Syros have also helped strengthen the brand’s market performance. In a market where customers want style, features, mileage, safety and preferably a sunroof large enough to spot weather changes, Kia’s portfolio appears to be ticking several boxes.
Commenting on the sales performance, Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, “Our highest-ever May sales performance reflects the strong alignment of our product portfolio with evolving customer preferences across segments. The continued strong demand for the new Seltos along with Sonet, coupled with the encouraging response to the Carens Clavis, Clavis EV and the MY26 Syros, has helped us sustain our growth momentum. At the same time, recent initiatives like our Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) program are playing an important role in making electric mobility more accessible and practical for customers. As we continue to strengthen our presence across the country, our focus remains on delivering innovative products, premium ownership experiences and technologies that are relevant to the evolving needs of Indian consumers.”
The new Kia Seltos remained a key contributor to the company’s performance, crossing the 10,000-unit sales mark every month since its launch in January. Kia said the SUV’s bold design, advanced technology and 5-star BNCAP safety rating, which makes it India’s highest-scoring ICE vehicle to date, have further strengthened its appeal among premium family SUV buyers.
The Kia Sonet also continued to perform strongly in the compact SUV space, helped by wider availability of automatic transmission options across petrol and diesel variants. Meanwhile, the MY26 Kia Syros has received an encouraging customer response, especially due to its refreshed variant strategy, improved automatic transmission accessibility and stronger value proposition.
Kia’s family mover portfolio has also gained momentum with the Carens Clavis and Clavis EV, both targeting customers looking for practical seating layouts, premium features and versatile mobility. The company’s Battery-as-a-Service program is expected to further support EV adoption by reducing the initial cost barrier and making electric vehicle ownership more accessible.
Kia India’s expanding retail and service network has also played a role in strengthening its market reach. The brand currently has 891 touchpoints across 402 cities, covering both urban and emerging markets. In addition, Kia operates 130 Certified Pre-Owned outlets, offering instant payments, seamless exchanges and a more convenient ownership experience.
With its best-ever May performance, growing EV focus and strong SUV-led demand, Kia India has entered the second half of 2026 with solid momentum. And judging by the numbers, the brand’s showroom traffic seems to be moving faster than a family WhatsApp group discussing which SUV to buy next.
