Kia is ramping up exports of its compact electric SUV, the EV3, to Europe.
Kia shipped over 33,000 EV3 units to Europe from August to December, signaling an aggressive push to expand its regional presence. This export surge comes as the EV3 gains traction in Europe’s fiercely competitive compact electric SUV market.
Industry data released on Wednesday reveals that Kia exported 33,173 EV3 units to Europe between August and December, all produced at domestic plants. This figure more than doubles the EV3’s domestic sales of 12,851 units for the same period.
Kia’s export momentum has been building rapidly since August, when it shipped 1,424 EV3 units to Europe. The monthly export figures have since climbed steadily: 6,158 units in September, 7,993 in October, 9,098 in November, and 8,500 in December.
This export boost is a strategic response to the EV3’s growing popularity in the European market.
Only 7,835 units were sold last year, possibly due to a supply shortage. However, increased export volumes are expected to drive up sales figures naturally.
The EV3 is gaining recognition for its quality and appeal in Europe. A standout achievement is its nomination for Finland’s Car of the Year for 2025, a country at the forefront of EV adoption in the EU.
The Finnish Car of the Year award, organized by The Finnish Association of Automobile and Transportation Suppliers (AuLi), is among the country’s most prestigious automotive accolades.
Recent EU tariff hikes on Chinese EVs have created a favorable market environment for the EV3.
On October 30, 2024, the European Commission increased tariffs on Chinese EVs sold in Europe from 10% to 17.8% and 45.3%, respectively. Kia sees this as an opportunity to boost EV3 exports and significantly expand its market share.
An industry insider commented, “Kia has set an ambitious annual sales target of 60,000 units for the EV3 in Europe, aiming for consistent monthly sales of around 5,000. The company is proactively increasing its export volumes.”
