March Auto Sales: Kia

Kia sold a total of 24,871 vehicles in March, down 9.8 percent from 27,567 at the same time last year.

Adjusted for two fewer selling days in the first three months of this year compared with last, Kia sales fell 2.8 percent.

Sales of Kia's Optima dropped 44.3 percent to 2,404 vehicles, while sales of the Sportage fell 26.3 percent to 3,171 and Sorento sales slid 45.9 percent to 2,039.

Meanwhile, sales of the Rio rose 15.4 percent to 3,514 units and demand for the Spectra jumped 41.4 percent to 8,022.

So far this year, Kia sales are down 7.3 percent to 68,214 from 73,603 at the same time last year.

Adjusted for one fewer selling day in the first three months of this year compared with last, Kia sales were down 6.1 percent.