Kia India Domestic Dispatches Rise 13% in October 2026 Driven by Seltos and Syros Volume Gains
Kia India recorded 33,462 domestic passenger vehicle dispatches in October 2026, marking a 13% year-on-year increase compared with 29,556 units in October 2025, according to AutoPunditz. On a month-on-month basis, wholesale deliveries expanded by approximately 5% from 32,017 units registered in September 2026, adding 1,445 units sequentially. The overall volume momentum was primarily propelled by the performance of the Kia Seltos alongside substantial expansion from the Syros crossover. However, contrasting trends emerged across the brand's product catalog as the Sonet and Carens posted double-digit annual contractions that partially offset positive gains. Overall, the company added 3,906 units year-on-year across its domestic operations.
The Kia Seltos maintained its position as the automaker's primary volume generator, dispatching 13,423 units during October 2026 compared with 7,130 units a year earlier. This performance represents an annual increase of 88%, adding 6,293 units to account for approximately 40.1% of Kia's total domestic volume. Sequentially, Seltos deliveries advanced by 7% from 12,593 units recorded in September 2026. The sport utility vehicle stood out across the industry as one of the standout volume contributors during the festive month. On November 12, 2026, Kia India signed an MoU for a second manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh, adding 2 lakh units of annual capacity, according to The Times of India. In October 2026, Kia recorded 1,404 electric-vehicle registrations according to Vahan data. The Kia Sonet is being evaluated for a factory-fitted CNG option with a target of FY28, according to Auto Forum India.
The Sonet compact SUV ranked as Kia's second-highest selling vehicle despite encountering a 30% annual contraction. Wholesale deliveries of the Sonet fell from 12,745 vehicles a year earlier down to 8,914 units during the month, shedding 3,831 units while comprising 26.6% of company dispatches. Sequentially, Sonet wholesale numbers slipped 6% compared with September. The Carens multi-purpose vehicle delivered a mixed outcome, declining 21% year-on-year from 8,779 units to 6,918 units. Together, the Sonet and Carens witnessed a combined annual reduction of 5,692 units across domestic dealership deliveries. Nevertheless, the Carens rebounded sequentially with a 9% increase over the 6,319 units dispatched in September 2026.
Among vehicles with an established baseline, the Kia Syros achieved the highest percentage growth within the portfolio by expanding 161%. Syros dispatches rose from 785 units in October 2025 to 2,048 units in October 2026, alongside an 11% monthly improvement from 1,848 units in September. The newly introduced Sorento achieved 2,148 dispatches during the month against 1,739 vehicles in September, representing month-on-month expansion of approximately 24%. Within the premium bracket, the Carnival registered only 11 units compared with 116 in October 2025 and 25 in September, while EV6 and EV9 recorded zero shipments. Kia's top three models of Seltos, Sonet, and Carens collectively accounted for more than 87% of total October domestic deliveries. In October 2026, the Syros EV recorded 880 registrations, according to Evelectree. In June 2026, the Seltos and Sonet together accounted for 18,885 units, representing close to 77% of Kia India's total dispatches for the month, according to The Times of India.