South Korean auto giant Kia announced Friday that it had sold 2 lakh units of its SUV Seltos in India in the first two years of its operations.
According to a statement, Kia India also sold 1.5 million units of internet-enabled "connected cars" during this time.
Connected cars have their own internet connectivity. They can connect to nearby devices over wireless networks, offering drivers a variety of useful functions such as live traffic updates and alternate routes. Drivers can also remotely start the engine through a smartphone app. Emergency services can be contacted in the event of an accident.
It was responsible for more than 66% of Kia India's total sales. The cumulative sales have also reached 3 lakh units.
Seltos top models account for 58% of sales, but the auto options contribute more than 35%," the company stated. It also noted that the diesel engine accounted for only 45% of overall SUV sales.
Tae-Jin Park, Kia India's Chief Sales and Business Strategy Officer, stated that "success milestones" are a great motivator because it fuels our passion to serve customers better. These milestones, which were achieved back-to-back, are a testimony to our determination to bring a revolution to the auto industry and cater to the young-at-heart dynamic buyers who demand premium products of the highest quality.
He said that the Indian passenger vehicle market (PV) is changing due to shifting customer preferences, higher demand for the most recent features and cutting-edge connected car technology.
Kia India said that the 1.5 lakh sales milestone in connected cars was "an affirmation of the brand's technological advancements and knowledge of the vast Indian market".
It added that "While the Seltos is still the mainstay of this achievement, contributing more than 78 percent, the Sonet accounts to over 19% of all connected Kia sales."