Kia is crushing it in America, and sidestepping tariffs — for now

Korean automaker Kia (000270.KS), is killing it.

Kia America, a part of the Hyundia Motor Group, reported one other document gross sales month in February, powered by its mixture of fuel powered choices just like the high-selling Telluride SUV, in addition to EV autos just like the EV6 crossover.

“So our grand technique is, first, we wish to be a pacesetter in what we name sustainable mobility. That is key, is mission, and EVs are a part of that, and likewise contains electrified inner combustion, which is hybrids and plug in hybrids and so forth,” Steven Middle, Kia Americas COO & EVP informed Yahoo Finance. “However we we have additionally constructed out a really full lineup of inner combustion autos up to now few years.”

Middle mentions the aforementioned three-row Telluride, in addition to the Sorrento and different smaller SUVs. The corporate didn’t abandon sedans — like its Massive Three rivals did — and simply launched the midsize K4 final yr. The bigger K5 is definitely inbuilt North America.

A giant a part of the expansion plans for Kia embody localizing manufacturing within the US, which it has achieved for a few years. Kia intends to maneuver its EV manufacturing stateside as properly.

“We’ll be constructing EVs in Georgia, and that is earlier than any of this tariff discuss. Kia has been in america for over 30 years now, and we have invested as an organization, billions and billions and billions of {dollars} in American manufacturing and provide chain,” Middle stated. “So that is a part of a plan we have had for a very long time.”

Formally, Kia addressed the 800-pound gorilla within the room —Trump’s auto tariffs — by stating the corporate is monitoring tariff developments and shall be reviewing enterprise methods in response.

However — and it is a large however — the White Home hasn’t focused autos made in South Korea, the place Kia is predicated and nonetheless imports autos within the US.

Ford CEO Jim Farley has been howling that not concentrating on different worldwide imports with tariffs is unfair as a result of worldwide automakers like Kia are primarily getting a free journey, whereas imports from Mexico and Canada — additionally a part of a free commerce settlement — are slated for 25% duties beginning April 2.

Unfair or not, it’s probably solely a matter of time earlier than different commerce companions are focused by the administration, and Middle believes Kia has a very good sport plan if that occurs, due to its giant US footprint.

“[Tariffs] will have an effect on each model otherwise relying on their stability of what they make the place. So in our case, and we have had loads of conferences about this up to now few months, we have our marketing strategy, and we’ll proceed to work that plan to the perfect benefit of our clients, our sellers — who’re additionally clients who’ve large investments in Kia — and to hit the amount ranges, we wish to continue to grow [in the US].”