Kia plans to cease production of its compact sedan ‘K3’ and mid-size sports utility vehicle (SUV) ‘Mohave’ come July. This strategic move aims to enhance production efficiency by phasing out underperforming models while ramping up the assembly line for high-demand hybrid SUVs and ute.
Production of the K3 and Mohave at Autoland Hwaseong Plant 1 is set to halt by mid-July, with the Sorento SUV maintaining production at the same facility. From February onwards, the plant will transition to manufacturing Kia’s inaugural ute, the Tasman. Meanwhile, the void left by the discontinued models will be filled by maximizing the output of the popular Sorento, with a special emphasis on its hybrid variant, which comprises over 70% of Sorento sales. Recent data reveals that the Sorento achieved domestic sales of 7,865 units last month, solidifying its position as Kia’s top-selling SUV.
The decision to discontinue the K3 and Mohave stems from dwindling sales owing to model obsolescence and the imperative of bolstering production efficiency. Lacking successors, these models are slated for phase-out to streamline production towards more sought-after vehicles.
The K3, introduced in 2012 and now in its second generation since 2018 with a facelift in 2021, has experienced a sharp decline in sales as consumer preference in the compact sedan segment gravitates towards SUVs. Only 1,336 units of the K3 were sold last month, prompting Kia to forgo domestic sales despite introducing a successor model, the ‘K4,’ in select overseas markets.
Similarly, the Mohave, once synonymous with ‘Chung Eui-sun’s car,’ will bid adieu around the same time. Conceived under the stewardship of Chairman Chung during his tenure as Kia’s president, the Mohave has enjoyed a 17-year production run since its inception in 2008. Despite intermittent rumors of discontinuation, the heavy V6 SUV’s sales have steadily dwindled in favour of more efficient 4-cylinder vehicles, hastening its exit from the assembly line.
