Kia attributes this rising sales trend to a number of factors: a dedicated and united local staff, aworld-class car lineup with superior product and price competitiveness, and local marketing spearheaded by a nationwide ad campaign that has won the accolades of industry analysts and dealers alike. As a result, the value of the Kia brand has continued to rise,playing a key role in boosting sales. Buoyed by this growth, Kia is now readying its Carnival minivan and as-yet-unnamed B-III subcompact for release in the U.S. in 1999. Carnival went on sale in Korea in late 1997, and the b-III is currently under development. Kia U.S. Monthly Sales ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- '97 | Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Total Sephia | 1,492 1,483 1,921 2,305 2,847 2,568 3,398 16,014 Sportage | 1,132 1,046 1,172 1,236 2,070 1,424 1,626 9,706 Total | 2,624 2,529 3,093 3,541 4,917 3,992 5,024 25,720 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- '98 | Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Total Sephia | 5,644 4,630 3,794 3,414 4,113 6,303 7,112 35,010 Sportage | 1,553 1,566 2,288 2,116 2,188 2,912 2,983 15,606 Total | 7,197 6,196 6,082 5,530 6,301 9,215 10,095 50,616 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------