The Kia brand of vehicles has climbed to the second on the list of vehicle brands imported into Nigeria in the first quarter of 2008.

Latest figures from the nation’s ports also show that Toyota is still leading the auto market, accounting for 40.32 per of total number.

The details of the report, obtained in Lagos on Monday, indicated that 4,062 units of Kia vehicles were imported into the country during the period, representing 14.71 per cent of the total vehicle brands.

The statement said, “A break down of the list shows that Toyota tops with a total of 11, 130 vehicles imported into the country within the first quarter of 2008. Kia came second with a total of 4, 062 vehicles shipped into the country.”

Honda and Peugeot were also on the list with a total of 2, 567, and 1, 556 imports respectively.

The figures, it added, represented 9.03 per cent for Honda, and 5.64 per cent of vehicle imports by Peugeot.

Nissan followed closely with a total of 1, 119 vehicles, representing 4.05 per cent of total number of imported vehicles.

Volkswagen was the last on the list of brands with a total number of 1,013 units imported, representing 3.67 per cent of total imports.

Mitsubishi, BMW, Chevrolet, Isuzu and Jinbei had less than 1,000 units of their brands imported into the country through the ports with Mitsubishi leading in this category with a total number of 894 imports.

Kia Motor Corporation, which was established in 2002, sells its products in Nigeria through Dana Motors.

Having invested heavily in workshops and spare parts centres, it prides itself as an auto firm that cares.

It has changed its models from the originally designed 13-inch wheels to 14-inch wheels to enable the vehicles weather through the turbulent terrains in the country.

Cumulatively through the first quarter of 2008, Kia’s global sales increased by 12.3 per cent year-on-year and reached 330,887 units, it recently announced.

Source: Punch