Kia’s 32,199 new car registrations in the first three months of 2022 made it the UK’s best-selling car brand year-to-date – almost 8% ahead of Ford in second place.

While AM’s David Francis observed that “Kia is not going to hold that spot for long” it’s certainly served as a strong opening salvo in a year when the Korean brand intends to make up for lost time and finally crack 100,000 annual registrations in its largest European market.

With new-look showrooms opening in 2022, record order banks, a new version of the Sportage SUV now reaching showrooms and a new Niro range of hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and fully electric models also arriving in July, it is unlikely consumer demand will be adversely impacted – even with the current headwinds.

Kia UK president and chief executive Paul Philpott tells AM he is “very confident” his retailer network will help it achieve a six-figure landmark in 2022.

Speaking in the week that marked his 15th year heading the brand, he said: “It’s been the most challenging two years of my 15 with Kia, but I’m tremendously proud of everything this company and our dealer partners have achieved: trebling volume versus 2007 and having great potential to keep growing this business.”