Kia sells nearly 15 mln SUVs, minivans in global markets

SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-biggest carmaker by sales, said Sunday it has sold nearly 15 million sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and minivans in global markets.

Kia expects the figure to exceed 15 million units this month, given it sold an accumulated 14.95 million units of its SUV models such as the Sportage and Sorento and its Carnival van models as of the end of March, the company said in a statement.

To capitalize on the growing demand for SUVs, Kia released the all-new Soul box car in the United States in January and the flagship Telluride SUV in the world's most important automobile market in March, it said.

The Telluride is available only in the U.S.

Kia, which is 34 percent owned by Hyundai Motor Co., plans to launch the SP Signature and the upgraded Mohave SUV in the domestic market in the second half.

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