Kia has confirmed that the Rio will be axed in the U.S. after the 2023 model year on the back of declining sales and continued consumer interest in crossovers and SUVs.
The writing has been on the wall for the Kia Rio for quite some time. In 2022, a total of 26,996 examples were sold in the United States, representing a 14 percent decline from the year prior. Sales this year are also down by 2 percent and it simply doesn’t make sense for Kia to continue producing the subcompact. It’s not just in the U.S. where the Rio will soon go the way of the dodo.
Read: Kia Rio To Be Axed From Europe And Australia
In February, Kia confirmed it had axed the Rio in the European Union, the UK, and Australia. Just 32,506 Rios were sold in Europe last year, and while that’s more than were sold in the U.S., it pales in comparison to rivals like the Opel Corsa, which sold 164,119 units. Interest in the Rio has also waned significantly in Australia, with just 4,576 units sold in 2022 compared with 16,168 examples of its closest rival, the MG 3.
Auto News says that the factory in Monterrey, Mexico, where the Rio is built, will be retooled and used top produce two small EVs. Details about these two models have not been confirmed, but there is speculation they could take the form of the EV3 and EV4, a pair of small crossovers underpinned by the Hyundai Group’s new Integrated Modular Architecture. The new IMA platform will be offered with nine standardized battery packs and 5 electric motor options.
Earlier this month, Kia unveiled the new K3 sedan which will effectively replace the Rio in its range.
