Kia Motors UK has claimed the Franchise Partner of the Year accolade for the third time in the past four years.

Suzuki GB broke up its reign in 2018.

The Korean car maker, whose registrations rose 1.63% from 97,323 to 95,764 in 2019, made it into the reader-voted shortlist before judges selected it as this year’s overall winner.

Its success follows strong performances in the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) bi-annual Dealer Attitude Survey and Electric Vehicle Dealer Attitude Survey.

The brand finished joint top of the Dealer Attitude Survey rankings when franchisees were asked to rate their manufacturer partner from one-to-10 (8.1) and top for profitability with a score of 8.4.

In the Electric Vehicle Dealer Attitude Survey it averaged 7.63 across all questions to finish second with a fast-evolving alternative fuel vehicle range.

Last year the brand also won the Best Customer Satisfaction Strategy Award from The Institute of Customer Service for its ‘Family-like Care’ strategy.

Judges of AM’s 2020 awards praised Kia’s continued flow of new product after 2018, with the launch of the new Ceed and Optima, the first full-year of sales for the Stonic and flagship Stinger saloon and a facelift for the Sportage SUV.

The introduction of a 48v Sportage mild hybrid and the new XCeed crossover followed in 2019 as retailers benefitted from their first full year of sales of the brand’s debut EV, the e-Niro.

In 2020 Kia dealers will get a range of new AFV product, including an updated e-Niro, the new Soul EV and plug-in hybrid versions of the Ceed and XCeed.

Speaking to AM at the launch of the XCeed in September, long-standing Kia Motors UK chief executive Paul Philpott said the new models will propel Kia to further UK growth.

“I’d love to achieve 100,000 sales but we have a long-term plan without a deadline on it. I think we can get to 120,000 in the UK without materially changing our strategy,” he said.

Finalists: Ford of Britain, Hyundai Motor UK, Kia Motors UK, Mazda Motors UK, Peugeot UK, Volvo Cars UK