[v12]

Kia is urgently making contingency plans to advance shipments of cars to Britain from South Korea after 1,300 UK-bound were lost last Sunday in a collision off Singapore between a car-carrying freighter and a super tanker.

With UK sales up 61% up until the end of April, and the brand heading towards 33,000 car sales this year, Kia claimed the accident was unlikely to make a major impact on its forecast performance.

But Kia Motor UK's spokesman, Paul Carter, admitted that losing the selection of Rios, Sorentos, Carens, Sedonas and 400 of the recently launched Picanto would mean having to bring forward supplies for the September registration peak.

He said: "With our cars very much in demand it is obviously not helpful and we will do all we can to minimise any waiting lists. But customers should know that they will not find empty showrooms because of the collision.

"We are working to bring forward schedules for ships due to dock at Sheerness in Kent over the next few months. This shipment was not due to arrive until late June so they would not be on sale until August and September. It is a case of protecting the orders we have and providing sufficient stock for the September rush."

Around 4,000 Kias, which are now at the bottom of the South China Sea, were bound for Europe on board the M.V. Hyundai 105, built and operated by Kia's parent company Hyundai.

Kia had already built up launch stocks for the new five-door Picanto small car, which debuted at the Sunday Times Motor Show Live. The company hopes to sell 6,000 Picantos this year, and 10,000 in 2005.

Carter added: "The loss involved five different models so it is better relatively than a concentration on one or two high-demand vehicles. The fact that they were not that far out from Korea means the majority was not yet allocated to dealers and in the supply pipeline."

Honest John adds: KIAS are well priced to start with, and this minor disaster means that demand is likely to exceed supply for Picantos and Sorentos, so discounts are highly unlikely.

Source : http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/?news_id=1456

[Revvmaster]

Hey V12

Great piece of news. I remember reading it in the newspaper a while back. It didnt however mention whether the cars were brand new or second hand or even the make. All it said was 4000 cars went to the bottom of the sea after the freighter carrying it collided with an oil-tanker. It said that 4000 cars from Japan and Korea were lost in the process.

Good work V12.

Revv

[GTO]

LOL, 4000 Kias sunk...Thats surely well deserved!

GTO

[S350L-E240]

There's a similar story that took place last year
the only difference that made my heart cry cuz i think it had BMW's and Rolls royces
But like GTO said well deserved kia's lol

[shravan316]

4000 cars!!....Thats a little too many cars, but, since its Kia(read Korean) who cares!!!!!!!!

[Sam]

A friend of mine in UK was importing the Lancer Evo MR and a and some toyota convertible which he got at an auction also went down in the same ship. really sad

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (S350L-E240 @ May 29 2004,20:24)]There's a similar story that took place last year
the only difference that made my heart cry cuz i think it had BMW's and Rolls royces

There were some BMW's but mainly Saabs and Volvo's. No Rolls Royces as the ship was approaching the UK

[GTO]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]A friend of mine in UK was importing the Lancer Evo MR

Now I am upset over that 1 EVO...and not the 4000 Kias that went down.

GTO

[S350L-E240]

Ajmat im quite sure reading abt rolls royces' lemme search and confirm,
But still BMW's

[VTEC11]

4000 cars in 1 boat? That's gotta be a pretty big boat.

[GTO]

There was a picture in the business section of todays Times of India. A ship which tilted on the Belgium port, and was abandoned by the owners. Pretty sad site to see so many second hand cars half-submerged in water.

GTO