Are Kia Stinger Sales Living Up To The Hype? Here Are The Numbers

[Ruturaj]

Came across this news article today about sales numbers of Stinger vs competitors.

Are Kia Stinger Sales Living Up To The Hype? Here Are The Numbers

 

[Kamauxx]

It's unfortunate that they didn't have the numbers for the cars the Stinger is meant to compete with. They failed to answer the question the article was meant to address. They could have saved some time and just typed "lol, shrugs...we dunno!"

 

[Waynerm002]

A lot of badge snobs aren’t sold on it yet but give it time, we enthusiasts are the ones that will get the word out. Remind me of the early days of the Optima, folks would be shocked when I told them I traded my BMW 535 for a KIA Optima. When they saw the car, they thought it was another European brand with all the features then noticed the badge (outside it had been changed) on the steering wheel they were shocked it was a KIA. Later a few co-workers are now driving KIAs and the Optima is now in larger numbers in my area.

 

[CaliSting]

I don’t think Stinger sales numbers are living up to Kia Execs expectations. US domestic pony cars significantly outselling Stinger. BMW 4 series and Audi A5 sales not down significantly so not grabbing traditional BMW or Audi buyers. Now that initial hype has faded Stinger sales down two months in a row. Kia isn’t very good at selling more premium vehicles either. Not enough special editions etc to boost numbers.

Would be cool to see sales volume by model. I don’t know that Stinger is sustainable at such low sales volume if base model cars make up any significant number of sales but perhaps platform sharing with G cars will help. Suspect Stinger sales will really take a dump when Genesis G70s start to hit markets soon. More premium dealer experience with car in same price range.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I don’t think Stinger sales numbers are living up to Kia Execs expectations.

I don't agree, since it is too early to tell anything. Just how quickly out of the gate do you expect Kia to sell cars? Give it more time.

Your "sales down two months in a row" is more of a dip, or fluctuation since April averages out the curve by being low:
January 1.021
February 1.344
March 1.555
April 1.378
May 1.761
June 1.579
July 1.506
You can't do more than make assertions from that.

But it will be interesting alright. G70 isn't a competitor, it's another iron in the fire for Hyundai. Will one car win out over the other? Or will both get enough car enthusiast interest to warrant further production?

 

[CaliSting]

Well given Kia spent tens of millions on Stinger only Super Bowl ads with big name celebrities had big expensive opening celebrations at Sema and tracks across world. Placed cars in high traffic Malls and airports. Gave tons of high end press cars to most of breathing car media and well known youtube reviewers late 17 early 18. ....car has been given luke warm sales reception at best. Numbers are sputtering without that significant PR and Ad spendfrom Kia. Data shows pretty plainly that ad and PR spend bumped Feb and March sales. If the “word” isn’t out yet unlikely things will change in Sales volumes. Stinger will be one of those great one off money losers like Mitsubishi does so well. Lol!

And while I agree and see G70 as completely different segment than Stinger it will Cannibalize Stinger sales.

Don’t get me wrong I’m glad Hyundai group has stuck their toe in GT sedan water ...heck I love mine, but I don’t think they will ever emerge as threat to US pony cars or Euro Sedans.

 

[EBdiesel08]

They should be advertising more, I rarely see any commercials.

 

[threeunderpar]

I see the ad pimping the 2.0 lease for $299 a little bit but their ad presence is weak overall.

 

[CaliSting]

They should be advertising more, I rarely see any commercials.

They should be advertising more, I rarely see any commercials.

i think of it this way. Stinger barely makes over 1% of Hyundai groups total sales. It’s an ok Halo car but not the best. I mean who makes a special trip to Kia dealer to see a Stinger as opposed to Shelby Mustang or ZR1 Corvette? So why pump more ad money into the car. Hamsters in the Souls were doing ok for them.

 

[MerlintheMad]

It's a work in progress. Expensive ads at the start, not bad sales so far, and the "word" is rolling around on four wheels. Inject a few more ads here and there as they go. Throw more ads in late this year, early next year for the 2019 model. By the time we can see what the G70 is doing compared to Stinger, we'll know where the Stinger is going. I would give this a solid year, guessing from here. But monthly sales overlapping with G70 will reveal the trend. My guess from here is that Stinger sales will remain flat: it's going to sell a thousand-plus cars a month for a long time. That isn't bad for the kind of car nich it is in.

 

[Soca Boy]

The Stinger is selling above what they predicted and it’s selling on par with its competitors. They didn’t build this car to sell like hotcakes, if your looking for a car like that it’s called a Corolla.

 

[Kamauxx]

The Stinger is selling above what they predicted and it’s selling on par with its competitors. They didn’t build this car to sell like hotcakes, if your looking for a car like that it’s called a Corolla.

What was Kia's prediction?

 

[robz32]

There is one main reason Kia is not selling more Stingers or at least as they should be, and that is brand stigma.
People are still convinced that Kia and hyundai are brands that produce unreliable, cheap, terrible cars, and find anyone who spends $40+k on one a total nut job. They percieve the brand as one that you can easily find at any car rental place for cheap and they are correct in that point alone.

Changing peoples perception of the brand is something that Kia/Hyundai have been working on for the past 10 years, maybe even a bit more. Hence why you saw them spending big with ads in the super bowl, also ads on the past world cup, etc. At one point the Japanese were in the same situation as Kia/hyundai are right now, it took them 15+ years to finally convince the north american market that their cars were more reliable and better built than their domestic counter parts.

If you ask me, Kia/Hyundai are doing a hell of a job shutting their competitors up with the vehicles they have coming up, plus no one else in the industry gives 10 year warranty, and its getting them more spot light time, and I think we can all agree it all started with the Stinger.

 

[MerlintheMad]

[Some] people are still convinced that Kia and hyundai are brands that produce unreliable, cheap, terrible cars

I edited that, because I am "people", and I have never heard anyone say that Hyundai or Kia for that matter are "unreliable, terrible cars". Cheap, relatively yes.

The Stinger appeared on the scene prepared by the Optima. Optima sales are over four times as many as Stinger, nearly five times as many. But that's because it is an established model. Stinger takes all that and makes it bigger and better, with real class built in; gran turismo class. And the opposition has been "stung" to silence, I do agree.

 

[robz32]

I didn't mean that in present tense, I meant it in the context that they still view the brand that way even though that changed years ago. Hence why I used "Still" before convinced.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I'm thinking that "some" would mostly be badge conscious and using their cars to massage their egos.

 

[Soca Boy]

What was Kia's prediction?

They where hoping to sell 1000 a month, when I had my K900 they where hoping for 1000 of those a year.

 

[Kamauxx]

They where hoping to sell 1000 a month, when I had my K900 they where hoping for 1000 of those a year.

I've never seen anything from Kia about what their sales goal for the Stinger is. Any links for that?

 

[Kamauxx]

and I think we can all agree it all started with the Stinger.

I'd argue that it started with the Optima and Sonata then trickled over to many other cars. The foundation was laid long before the Stinger arrived on the scene, many Stinger owners didn't pay attention prior to 2017 though.

 

[CaliSting]

Can anyone point to Kia formal sales forecast for Stinger printed in 2017 made by a Kia or Hyundai group senior exec? Haven’t seen one printed? Usually when company introduces a “hot” halo car they don’t have to offer huge cash incentives and financing gimmicks (again cost reductions) to introduce the car. Usually it’s opposite those cars move at or above MSRP without factory sponsored finance rates. With all hype curious why Kia has to push low lease and finance rates plus cash back ? Usually low volume premium cars mean higher profit not lower profits as Stinger is bringing.

Most of us who knocked thousands off MSRP and secured low factory financing benefitted as consumers but that’s not norm for lower volume specialty cars in their introduction phase of product life cycle. When I saw people walking out of dealers with below invoice deals and .09 financing that’s what attracted me. My pretty red GT2 all optioned at $45k and .09% 60 month financing hooked me. Doubt I would have taken dive into a new Kia if I couldn’t have got basement bargain discounted price on car as I would have bought an Audi or BMW. Suspect many US and Canadian sales have been due to factory incentives offered. That all equates to lower profits for Kia. As a guy who owns some European cars more for performance than prestige I liked idea of well engineered car with a brand perception of a cheap car. I love saying I just drive a Kia hatchback. Those who drive more upscale German cars know what I’m talking about.

Paint chip debacle hasn’t been good for Kia Halo car as many major publications have run stories on this major Stinger quality issue. Not good for car so early in its introduction. And stories about how Kia has handled hasn’t been good for a car that is one of its top marketing cars. DOH!

I’d also take issue with anyone who says Stinger doesn’t cross over into Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Acura territory with AWD and FWD GT sedans. How many people have we seen preple who buy this car say it’s not a race car it’s a comfortable touring car. I’d argue comfortable GT touring cars are overwhelmingly sold by Honda, Toyota and Nissan groups. Granted Kia did a great thing by offering boring but very capable V6 twin turbo in the Stinger but when dropped down to inline 4 model gets eaten by competition.

I’m still rooting the car is a volume sales failure with hopes it will remain unique experimental cult car . I like being only one in parking lot with that sexy looking $50k Kia Grand Turismo. I can’t even say Grand Turismo with a straight face. Lol