Kia India reported sales of 22,700 units in September 2025, which reflects a 3.5 percent decline compared to the 23,523 units sold in September 2024. The year-on-year drop suggests a slowdown in demand when measured against a high base from 2024. Despite this dip, Kia maintained a good momentum in the Indian market, supported by its wide portfolio. In the quarter ended September 2025 (Q2 FY26), Kia sold 65,460 units, a marginal increase from the 65,330 units sold in Q2 FY25. This translates to a year-on-year growth of just 0.2%. The overall decline indicates that market competition has intensified and customer preferences are gradually evolving.
Month-On-Month Growth & Festive Push
While the year-on-year performance slipped, the company recorded a positive month-on-month trajectory. Sales in August 2025 stood at 19,608 units, meaning September witnessed a 15.8 percent increase compared to the previous month. This improvement of over 3000 units can be linked to festive season demand beginning to show momentum, as well as GST reduction that provided additional relief to certain car categories. Its Syros and Sonet were among the highest beneficiaries of the latest GST revision. The numbers highlight how monthly fluctuations often differ from yearly comparisons, giving a overall view of the market. The Carens Clavis EV has proven to be groundbreaking for Kia’s electric vehicle strategy. In August 2025, the model helped the company achieve its highest-ever monthly EV sales, reaching 441 units. This marked a year-on-year increase of over 2000% and the first time in 35 months that Kia India recorded EV sales in the three-figure range.
Performance Across Models
From January to September 2025, Kia India recorded sales of 2,06,582 units. This marks a 7.2% year-on-year growth over the 1,92,690 units sold during the same period in 2024. This growth reflects steady demand for Kia’s diverse portfolio, which includes popular models like the Seltos, Sonet, Carens, and the newly launched Carnival. While there was a slight dip in September’s YoY figures, the cumulative performance for the year remains strong and encouraging. The Seltos and Sonet together contributed a large share, reflecting steady demand in the compact and midsize SUV categories. The Carens remained popular among family buyers seeking flexible seating and features, while the Clavis gained traction as a fresh entrant in the portfolio. However, the Carnival continued to play a limited role, with only niche demand supporting its presence. These trends suggest that Kia’s performance rests heavily on a few strong models, leaving room for diversification in the future.
Market Context & Conclusion
The September 2025 sales figures for Kia come at a time when overall industry growth is at all-time-high. Most automakers are reporting gains thanks to the updated GST reforms and the ongoing festive season. For Kia, the month-on-month surge offers optimism as the festive season progresses, but the year-on-year dip underscores the challenges of sustaining high sales levels in a competitive market. The company is expected to rely on dealer discounts and continued focus on SUVs to boost numbers during the upcoming festival period. Whether this will offset the decline and deliver consistent growth in the last quarter of 2025 will be a key factor to watch.
