Kia achieves record July as PV5 and EVs power continued UK growth

• Record July for Kia UK, with 9,870 cars and PBVs registered
• Kia ranked third in the combined UK car and LCV market, both month- and year-to-date
• Kia the second best-selling car brand in the UK, both in July and year-to-date
• PV5 is the UK’s best-selling electric van year-to-date, helping propel Kia to third place in the e-LCV market
• Over 1,000 Kia PBVs registered in a single month for the first time
• Kia was the UK’s number one EV brand in July, with 3,731 EV registrations
• EV3 was the second most-registered EV in July, with 1,691 registrations
• Sportage remains Kia’s best-selling model and the UK’s favourite family SUV, ranking second overall with 29,033 registrations year-to-date

Kia UK has achieved its strongest July performance on record, registering 9,870 vehicles across its passenger car and PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) ranges, according to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The result further strengthens Kia’s position as one of the UK’s leading automotive brands. Across the combined car and light commercial vehicle (LCV) market, Kia ranked third in July and remains third year-to-date. In the passenger car market alone, Kia secured second place for both the month and year-to-date, with 9,086 registrations in July and 71,931 registrations so far this year.

The record month was driven by exceptional demand for Kia’s newest products, including the PV5 – the brand’s first dedicated fully electric PBV – and the brand’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle line-up.

Commercial vehicles

Kia’s entry into the UK commercial vehicle market continues to exceed expectations following the market introduction of the PV5 at the end of 2025.

July marked the first time more than 1,000 Kia PBVs were registered in a single month, comprising 784 PV5 Cargo models and 235 PV5 Passenger models.

Strong customer demand since launch has already seen year-to-date registrations reach 3,239 PV5 Cargo models and 1,141 PV5 Passenger variants, comfortably surpassing Kia UK’s original annual sales expectations.

From a standing start at the beginning of the year, the popularity of the PV5 has propelled Kia into third place in the UK’s electric light commercial vehicle market both month- and year-to-date. The PV5 Cargo is also the UK’s best-selling electric van so far this year, excluding PV5 Passenger registrations.

Across Europe and including the UK, the Kia PV5 has quickly become the most popular e-LCV, according to data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). Available as Cargo, Passenger and Chassis variants for businesses and private customers, the PV5 accounted for an impressive 37% of all electric vans sold in the small van (C-segment) in Europe, and was number one in 12 countries, including the UK and Germany.

The success of the PV5 highlights growing demand for Kia’s PBV proposition, which combines practical capability, a dedicated EV platform, competitive running costs and Kia’s reassuring seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Electric vehicle leadership

Kia continued its strong momentum in the UK’s transition to electrification, ending July as the nation’s best-selling EV brand with 3,731 fully electric vehicles registered during the month.

A significant contributor to this success was the Kia EV3, which was the UK’s second most-registered electric vehicle in July with 1,691 registrations. The EV3’s monthly volume equated to around half of Sportage registrations during the same period, underlining the popularity of Kia’s electric cars and the growing customer demand of electric mobility.

Year-to-date, Kia ranks second among all manufacturers in the EV market, behind only one pure-electric brand. Kia’s all-electric line-up now spans the EV2, EV3, EV4, EV5, EV6 and EV9, alongside the PV5, offering one of the most comprehensive EV portfolios available in the UK market.

The strength of Kia’s EV range has also been supported by eligibility for the Government’s Electric Car Grant across a number of models, helping make electric driving even more accessible for customers.

Sportage continues its success

The Kia Sportage remains the cornerstone of Kia’s success in the UK and abroad, and continues form as the UK’s favourite family SUV.

With 29,033 registrations so far this year, Sportage is currently the UK’s second best-selling vehicle overall and has increased registrations by 5.6% compared to the same period last year.

Commenting on the results, Paul Philpott, Kia UK’s President and CEO, said: “Kia’s record July performance reinforces our position among the UK’s best-selling automotive brands. With strong demand across passenger cars, electric vehicles and commercial vehicles, alongside the continuing success of Sportage and the rapid rise of the PV5 shows promise for the rest of 2026. Next this year, the full UK line-up of the Kia EV2 will soon begin customer deliveries, adding to the single grade ‘First Edition’ and further boosting our EV line-up.”