Khaberni - Kia Soul, one of the most famous cars of the Korean brand, although not widely loved, will cease production.
Kia announced on Monday that 2025 will be the last production year for the Soul, with production ending this month. The company points out that there are still a few thousand of these cars available for sale through dealers for those who wish to acquire them.
Kia first introduced the Soul in 2009, and sold over one and a half million cars in the United States over three generations. It also had a notable presence in several Arab countries such as Egypt and Jordan, and as the New York Times reported at its launch, Kia wanted a competitor to the Scion xB, a vehicle akin to a box on wheels, distinct from traditional hatchbacks.
Like the xB, the Soul lived in the marginal space between compact cars and crossovers, with a tall and upright driving position similar to the latter. Kia aimed to attract this vehicle to young urban dwellers, but in reality, it found popularity among older buyers thanks to the upright driving position and ease of entry and exit.
The discontinuation of the Soul production reflects a current reality in the automotive industry: with tariffs, selling cheap imported cars has become unprofitable, and the Soul is manufactured in Korea.
Given that the third generation of the Soul debuted in 2019, it was nearing the end of its lifecycle anyway and it was likely that Kia would refocus its efforts towards more popular (and profitable) segments and electric vehicles.
