Kia India’s August Wholesale Sales Surge 48.1% to Record High, Led by Seltos and Sonet as Syros EV Joins Lineup

【NEW DELHI, India = Correspondent Pragya Awasthi】Kia India is continuing its rapid growth in the Indian market, posting its highest-ever monthly performance. The Kia Seltos and Kia Sonet, its popular flagship sport utility vehicles (SUVs), remain in strong demand, while the new Syros EV is also performing well. Together, they helped Kia achieve a record monthly wholesale sales figure.
Kia India said on the 2nd that it dispatched a total of 29,042 vehicles in August. That was a 48.1% increase from 19,608 units in August last year and marked Kia’s highest August wholesale sales volume since entering India’s domestic market.
Cumulative sales have also risen sharply this year. Kia India dispatched 220,991 vehicles from January through August 2026, up 20.1% from 183,882 units during the same period last year. The key models driving the increase were the Kia Seltos and Kia Sonet. In particular, the Seltos has established itself as one of the most important models in Kia’s India business, recording average monthly sales of more than 10,000 units since the new-generation model was launched in January. The Sonet has also maintained steady sales, particularly in India’s popular subcompact SUV segment. The two models are regarded as the core products supporting overall sales as Kia adds new vehicle types and a wider range of powertrains.
The Syros EV, recently added to the lineup, is also receiving a positive response. By offering Indian consumers a new subcompact electric SUV option, the Syros EV is helping expand Kia’s electrified lineup. Kia has also introduced various ownership programs to reduce EV buyers’ concerns about upfront costs and long-term vehicle maintenance. These include the Assured Buyback program, which guarantees the vehicle’s future residual value; Battery as a Service, which allows customers to use the battery separately; and a lifetime warranty program for high-voltage batteries.
Atul Sood, Kia India’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, said, "The strong performance in August demonstrates customers’ continued trust and the competitiveness of our evolving product lineup. While the Kia Seltos and Kia Sonet continue to drive steady demand, the positive sales contribution from the newly launched Syros EV shows that customers are becoming more receptive to electric vehicles."
Kia plans to further expand its product portfolio in India, focusing on SUVs and electrified models. The Kia Sorento is scheduled to enter a local production line in India on Sept. 4. The three-row SUV is expected to become Kia India’s first hybrid SUV, and it will also be offered with a diesel powertrain.
Over the next several years, Kia plans to strengthen its push into India’s electrification market by successively introducing new SUVs, electric vehicles and hybrid models. It is also expanding customer access points, with 910 sales and service outlets in 418 cities and 137 certified pre-owned vehicle dealerships. The strategy is to broaden Kia’s position in India, where demand for SUVs and electrified vehicles is growing simultaneously, by combining the sales competitiveness of the Kia Seltos and Kia Sonet with its expanding electrified lineup.
[email protected] Correspondent Pragya Awasthi Reporter