Kia is trading in its flagship sedan after 14 years to focus on smaller, more affordable electric vehicles.
Kia discontinues K9 sedan as EVs take the spotlight
Kia isn’t exactly the first brand that comes to mind when you think of a high-end vehicle, but the K9 (sold in the US as the K900) was the Korean automaker’s largest, most luxurious sedan.
The K9 launched in 2012 as the successor to the Opirius (Amanti in the US), Kia’s first attempt at a near-luxury flagship sedan.
While the larger K9 found its niche as a relatively affordable alternative to more expensive premium brands, sales have been steadily falling since 2022, and are expected to reach an all-time low in 2026.
In 2022, Kia sold 6,585 K9s. The following year, it sold 3,898 units, and in 2025, sales dropped to just 1,581. Through the first half of the year, Kia has only moved 734 K9 models.
202 Kia K900 (K9) Source: Kia
Kia already pulled the K900 from its US lineup in 2021, but now it’s reportedly discontinuing it globally. According to The Korea Economic Daily, Industry sources revealed on July 6 that Kia plans to end K9 production by the end of the year, with no refresh, full model change, or direct successor planned.
The move comes as Kia drops out of the large luxury sedan segment to refocus its resources on smaller, more affordable, and more efficient electric vehicles.
Kia EV4 Fastback (Source: Kia)
Kia plans to upgrade its production lines and workforce to support new all-electric vehicles, such as the EV4 and EV5, which are launching globally. Including the EV2, which went on sale earlier this year, Kia plans to sell 14 EVs by 2030.
Kia is also expanding its PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) electric van business. The PV5, Kia’s first electric van, is already off to a promising start.
2027 Kia EV3 (Source: Kia)
Next year, Kia will launch the larger PV7 (which was spotted in public for the first time), followed by the PV9 in 2029.
The company is also betting on software-defined vehicles (SDVs) as the future. Kia’s first SDV, a compact electric hatch codenamed “XV1,” is set to launch in Korea and Europe in 2027.
The electric hatch, likely the EV1, will offer Level 2+ autonomous driving on highways. By early 2029, Kia plans to expand to Level 2++, enabling it to operate in cities as well.
Kia reveals plans to launch its first software-defined electric vehicle (Source: Kia)
Kia’s flagship sedan was losing customers to the Genesis G80, G90, new Hyundai Grandeur, and other luxury models.
The lack of a more efficient hybrid option also played a role in Kia’s decision to discontinue the K9 sedan.
While Kia has hinted at a potential electric flagship sedan (possibly the EV8) with the Meta Turismo concept, nothing is official. For now, it looks like Kia will focus on higher-volume EVs such as the EV2, EV3, EV4, and EV5.
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