Seoul: Kia Corp., South Korea's second-largest automaker, reported a 2.4 percent increase in its January sales compared to the same period last year. This growth is attributed to a rise in the number of business days, which contributed to a boost in domestic sales.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kia, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co., sold 245,557 vehicles in January, an increase from the 239,878 units sold in January of the previous year. The company's domestic sales saw a significant surge of 12.2 percent, reaching 43,107 units, while international sales experienced a modest rise of 0.4 percent to 202,165 units.

The report highlights that the monthly figures included 285 special-purpose vehicles, marking a 63 percent increase from the 175 units sold a year earlier. Kia attributes the overall improvement in sales to the increased number of business days in January compared to the previous year.

Looking ahead, Kia announced its ambition to grow its sales by 6.8 percent annually by 2026. The company plans to achieve this goal by expanding its sales of Seltos and Telluride sport utility vehicles (SUVs), as well as increasing its offerings of electric and hybrid models.