Kia is ending production of the K9, the luxury sedan once sold in the US as the K900.
The decision comes after sales cratered 87% from 2018 to 2025.
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The K9 was Kia's most ambitious sedan, designed to compete with BMW and Mercedes. It was discontinued in the US in 2021 but continued in South Korea.
According to a report from Korea's Hankyung, the last K9 is expected to roll off the assembly line by the end of 2026, ending a 14-year production run.
Sales Decline and Market Position
In 2012, the K9 sold 13,931 units in South Korea, its best year. The second-generation model launched in 2018 with 11,843 sales.
By 2025, annual sales had fallen to just 1,581 units. In the first half of 2026, only 734 were sold.
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For comparison, the mechanically related Genesis G80 sold 41,291 units in 2025. The Hyundai Grandeur, a sibling to the Kia K8, sold 71,775 units.
The K8, a front-wheel-drive sedan, will now become the largest sedan in Kia's lineup.
Discontinuing the K9 frees up resources for more profitable projects. Production lines will be repurposed for future EVs and purpose-built vehicles.
The K9 never offered a hybrid option. It relied on V6 engines after the V8 was dropped in 2021.
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In South Korea, the current K9 starts at about $40,000 and tops out at $53,000 for the twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 with AWD.
