Official: Kia Stinger dead
After months of speculation – and contrary to recent denials from executives – Kia head office has confirmed production of the Stinger sedan is about to reach the end of the road.
Kia has announced production of the Kia Stinger sports sedan will come to an end – confirming long-standing overseas reports of its demise, amid a global decline in sedan sales.
It is expected to reach the end of the production line by the end of next year.
The decision to axe the Stinger was confirmed in a media statement issued overnight by Kia head office in South Korea, as part of the announcement of a final Tribute Edition model.
Previous reports about the demise of the Kia Stinger have applied to certain countries where sales have stalled, however the new statement is more emphatic – and final.
"The Tribute Edition ... celebrates the Stinger sedan’s significant contribution to the brand since its introduction in 2017, as production of the groundbreaking model comes to an end," the statement from Kia head office says.
It is also not known when the 1000 Tribute Editions will start and end production.
Despite the statement from Kia headquarters in South Korea, Kia Australia representatives told Drive this morning there have been "no change in our recent response on Stinger", and that it is "business as usual" until the local subsidiary is advised otherwise.
The company could not confirm when production of the Kia Stinger will end for Australia – however it said order books are still open.
Kia Australia chief operating officer Damien Meredith earlier this month told Drive the Kia Stinger "is in our business plan for next year. We'll probably sell as many [in 2023] as we did this year, so it's business as usual."
However, Mr Meredith made no reference to the Stinger being in the company's business plan beyond 2023. The company is expected to stockpile cars to fulfil backorders and meet demand for as long as possible.
The end of Kia Stinger production will be marked by a run of Tribute Edition models, limited to 1000 cars globally, and distinguished by unique exterior and interior trim.
Drive has been told no Kia Stinger Tribute Editions will come to Australia because the limited remaining production slots will be allocated to the backlog of police and customer orders for the standard model.
"Kia's high-performance spirit will continue through its recognised GT lineups," Kia head office said in a media statement this morning.
Industry figures show 2161 Kia Stinger sedans have been reported as sold in Australia so far this year – up 58 per cent on the year prior, despite sales of medium and large 'passenger cars' declining.
Sales are growing in Australia – the Stinger has broken its monthly sales record on three occasions this year – but they have tapered overseas, particularly in the United States and South Korea.
According to information in Kia’s financial reports, the Stinger recorded its best annual global sales in 2018, its first full year on sale.
But by 2021 sales had dropped to 21,700 vehicles – and over the first 10 months of 2022, only 12,800 examples have been reported as sold, down 32 per cent on the same period last year.
Drive will update this story with more information as it becomes available.