Kia Seltos Becomes the First India-Produced SUV to Top 700,000 in Cumulative Sales

New Delhi, India—Pragya Awasthi, correspondent: Kia’s first locally produced model in India, the Seltos, has surpassed 700,000 cumulative sales. Since its launch in 2019, the Seltos has enjoyed steady popularity in the Indian market, driving Kia’s growth there and expanding brand awareness.
According to Kia India on the 13th, 704,829 Seltos units were sold from August 2019 through October 2026. That represents about 36% of Kia’s cumulative sales of 1.68 million SUVs and utility vehicles (UVs) in India over the same period. At least 160,000 of those units were exported, making the Seltos one of Kia India’s key export models as well. In the domestic market, it has recorded high sales, second only to the Sonet. In October 2026, in particular, 13,423 Seltos units were sold, accounting for about 40% of Kia India’s total monthly dispatches of 33,462 units. This was the second-highest monthly sales figure on record, after the 15,000 units recorded in January 2020. That same month, Kia India posted its highest monthly dispatches since the company was founded.
Launched on August 22, 2019, the Seltos played a key role in raising Kia’s brand awareness in India and establishing it as a mass-market automaker. When it launched, the Seltos drew attention in the midsize SUV market with 16 trims, a range of price points, generous interior space, a wealth of convenience features and a premium design.
Competition in India’s midsize SUV market is intensifying, with more than 20 models competing and electric and hybrid models entering the fray. The Seltos ranked fourth, with 81,090 units sold from January to October 2026. The Mahindra Scorpio (112,841 units), Hyundai Creta (107,682 units) and Maruti Suzuki Victoris (88,804 units) ranked higher.
Buoyed by strong Seltos sales, Kia India is continuing to grow. It sold 286,470 units from January to October this year, up 21% from 236,138 in the same period last year. Sales have already surpassed the 280,286 units sold over the full year in 2025. With only 13,530 units left to reach 300,000 for the year, Kia India is expected to hit that milestone for the first time in November.
With the addition of the Sorento, a three-row internal-combustion SUV that sold 4,242 units from August to October 2026, annual sales could approach 350,000, analysts say. Kia has set a global sales target of 3.35 million units for 2026. Of that, the target for overseas markets is 2.77 million units, while the target for the domestic market in South Korea is 565,000 units.

[email protected] Pragya Awasthi, correspondent Reporter