This is a great problem to have.
Kia has an issue. Too many people want Telluride. It’s a terrible problem, right? According to a new report by MotorGraph.com, Kia announced that it would increase Telluride production to 100,000 per year. This was in response to high demand. This is more than the Tellurides that were sold in the U.S. last yea, though the three-row SUV has been on sale for only 11 months and crossovers and SUVs remain the top sellers.
Telluride sales began slowly in February, but quickly increased to over 5,000 per month for the majority of the year. The last quarter of 2019 saw sales of over 6,000 Tellurides per month. Kia sold a total of 58 604 Tellurides. This is a strong showing for an all-new three row SUV. It must compete with the Ford Explorer, which sold 184 653 units in 2019. However, the new Explorer suffered delays from manufacturing problems.
The slew of awards that helped Kia win SUV conversions includes the 2020 North American Utility of the Year. This beat out the Hyundai Palisade and the stunning Lincoln Aviator. The prestigious title was not the only award that Kia received for its new SUV.
The Telluride can beat the Palisade in price. The Kia has always been more expensive from the beginning. Even after an increase in both prices, the Kia remains the most expensive option, but that doesn’t seem to have slowed down interest. A Kia spokesperson stated last week that the Telluride was “on deep backorder” and that the company has “averaging 7-8 days supply nationwide.” The Telluride starts at $33,060 including destination.
Kia is considering expanding Telluride variants after the Telluride’s success in its first year. Rumours abound about a more luxurious trim and an off-road package. There are rumors about a long-wheelbase version. Kia’s new SUV is a hit, so it would be a shame that the company didn’t capitalize on this.