The once-thriving sales of the Kia Sorento have hit a wall. The main reason is the installation of the production line for the pickup truck Tasman, which is set to begin sales next year.
Kia reported that Sorento sales plummeted to 3,502 units in August, down from 7,596 the previous month—a strikingly low result for such a popular model. However, there is a clear reason behind the drop in Sorento sales: it’s the new Tasman vehicle.
The installation of the Tasman production line at the Hwaseong Plant, where the Sorento is manufactured, has disrupted the production of the Sorento itself. Analysts suggest that the introduction of the Tasman line has significantly slowed the existing Sorento production rate.
Kia stated, “The installation of the Tasman production line at the Hwaseong Plant has caused delays in Sorento production. However, there are still nearly a year’s worth of customers waiting for the Sorento. As soon as the Tasman production line is completed, production numbers will bounce back.”
By Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr