Kia has been doing pretty well lately. The South Korean brand just secured a massive investment from Apple, and while some manufacturers have certainly done better than others, Kia hasn't been left behind. Following a best-ever sales year in 2020, 2021 is off to a great start too. Kia Motors America is maintaining that great momentum and is now reporting its best-ever January sales figures. Who would have thought that a brand barely capable of selling a car that stays in one piece a decade ago would be breaking records now? But that's just what has happened.

SUVs have been the greatest factor contributing to these extraordinary results, with the Telluride, Niro EV, and Forte all doing well. Light trucks including the Telluride and Niro, as well as vehicles like the Soul, Seltos, Sportage, Sedona, and Sorento, made up 66.7 percent of Kia's total volume for January 2021. This represents an increase of 18.3 percent compared to the same period last year. But Kia isn't relying exclusively on these traditional models and expects its newer offerings to perform just as well as 2021 continues. And with a greater focus on electrification, the brand will remain at the forefront of the auto industry for a long time to come.

Kia is clearly feeling very confident about its achievements, with Kia Motors North America president and CEO Sean Yoon saying: "After outpacing the industry in historic fashion in 2020, Kia's upward trajectory and positive momentum continued with record-breaking January sales. With five all-new and significantly redesigned vehicles slated for introduction this year, we are confident this trend will continue in the first quarter and beyond."

We have no reason to doubt that things will continue in a positive manner for the brand, despite its decision to skip this year's Superbowl. It certainly looks like the days of German and Japanese automakers dominating sales reports may be coming to an end.