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Al Majid pins hopes on new Kia Sportage

Friday, Aug 06, 2010

Gulf News

Dealer has seen sales growth of 40% over last year’s first six months as new models come into the showroom

Dubai Kia dealer Al Majid Motors , is hoping the new Sportage will help drive sales up by 25 per cent this year.

“The Sportage is the main selling model. It was the market leader for Kia in 2008,” Mohammad Khader, general manager for Al Majid Motors , told Gulf News. “With a new style and design, I expect it will be doing much better this year.”

With the arrival of the 2011 Kia models, the distributor yesterday also launched its new showroom in Deira, a 14,000 square foot facility in the heart of the Dubai’s automobiles market.

“With this new showroom under our belt, we look forward to increasing Kia’s sales,” Khader said. “Despite a sluggish market, we are doing well because of the new models.”

During the first half of the year, the dealer experienced sales growth of 40 per cent over last year’s first six months as new models come in. This year, Khader expects to hit sales of 9,000 units.

The 2011 Kia Sportage features a new body shell and engine, distinctive styling and a range of luxury elements.

Khader said the success of the model is driven by the design, conceived by Peter Schereyer, ex-designer for German luxury brand Audi. The model comes with a 2.4-litre or 2.0-litre Theta II engine. Its four-cylinder 2,359cc power unit features weight-saving all-aluminium construction.

Said to have off-road capabilities, the four by four will retail in the range of Dh62,900 to Dh90,000.

The second-generation Sportage was introduced in 2004 and indicated a massive step forward for Kia . Over the next six years, the second-generation model attracted thousands of customers, achieving global sales of more than 860,000 units, including more than 172,000 units in 2009.

Showroom

With the new facility, it has ten showrooms throughout the UAE, all of which offer sales, after-sales and spare parts services.

Khader said that Ras Al Khaimah will see a Kia facility by the year-end.

abdel-krim kallouche/Gulf News

Kia milestone

Mohammad Khader, General Manager, and Tae-Jin Park, COO Regional Headquarters for Middle East and Africa, at the opening of the 10th showroom in Dubai.

dummy kicker

With this new showroom under our belt, we look forward to increasing KIA’s sales. Despite a sluggish market, we are doing well.”

Mohammad Khader

General manager, Al Majid Motors

By Nadia Saleem?Staff Reporter

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