Kia introduced the Europe-developed K4 hatchback to U.S. dealers last year, and Russell Wager, head of marketing for Kia in the Americas, said global volume made homologating the hatch for the U.S. viable.
Wager said hatchbacks account for about 80% of sales in Europe versus 20% for sedans, with the opposite split in the U.S., and that strong European demand lets Kia accept lower American volumes for the hatchback. Because global totals are high, Kia can justify the certification cost even if most U.S. buyers choose the sedan.
Kia reported record first-quarter sales in 2026, selling more than 200,000 vehicles, and said the K4 and K5 together accounted for 27% of its sales with both models up year-over-year. Kia also noted its planned U.S. launch of the EV4 sedan, originally targeted for late 2025, was affected by tariffs, a disappearing federal tax credit, and weakening EV demand.
Read the full article at theautopian.com.
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