The Kia Rio subcompact automotive — bought simplest as a hatchback in Canada — is not going to go back for the 2024 fashion occasion, the corporate showed to sibling newsletter Car Information in Detroit.
It follows the death of its petite Hyundai counterpart, the Pronunciation, discontinued then the 2022 fashion occasion.
Despite the fact that Kia stated it is going to stay within the sedan trade, North American citizens are leaning towards higher, higher-riding crossovers. Brightness vehicles, a division that comes with minivans, crossovers, SUVs and pickups, accounted for 79 in keeping with cent of all unutilized U.S. car gross sales for the primary six months of 2023.
The proportion was once related in Canada, the place sunny vehicles accounted for 78 in keeping with cent of all gross sales within the first part of the occasion, in step with the International Automakers of Canada.
That development was once mirrored in U.S. Rio gross sales. It ended 2022 with U.S. gross sales of simply 26,996, a 14-per-cent fade, in step with the Car Information Information & Analysis Heart. Via July of this occasion, Rio U.S. gross sales are ill two in keeping with cent.
Alternatively, that wasn’t the case in Canada, the place annual gross sales have been up 14 in keeping with cent to six,054 in 2022. However, gross sales have since slipped, ill 8 in keeping with cent to two,693 thru July.
Nonetheless, Kia Canada advised Car Information Canada in a remark that “consumer demand has shifted to models like the Kia Seltos and the Kia Forte — both top sellers for the brand.”
The automaker’s smallest car — with a origination worth of $19,933, together with delivery — is constructed at its manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico, the place Kia seems to be making plans to create two petite electrical automobiles then the plant is retooled for electrification.
Additionally assembled in Mexico is the Strong point compact sedan. The Strong point continues to do smartly in the USA and Canada, logging U.S. gross sales of 73,065, an build up of 18 in keeping with cent, during the first seven months of the occasion. In Canada, gross sales are up 24 in keeping with cent to 7,194 thru seven months.
The Rio’s finish leaves simply the Nissan Versa and Mitsubishi Mirage within the subcompact automotive section. Alternatively, sibling newsletter Car Information just lately reported that assets say the Mirage can be discontinued in mid-decade.
And, the Car Information Analysis and Information Heart classifies the Kia Soul and Little Cooper S as subcompact automobiles in Canada.
