[Edaily Reporter Lee Hye-ra] On the 18th, Hanwha Investment & Securities maintained its “Buy” rating on #Kia, stating, “Despite a slowdown in global automotive demand, sales growth centered on eco-friendly vehicles continues, and additional value could be highlighted as the Hyundai Motor Group expands its humanoid robot business.” The firm raised its target price from 245,000 won to 290,000 won.

Kim Seong-rae, an analyst at Hanwha Investment & Securities, stated in a report released that day, “Kia’s second-quarter sales are expected to reach 828,000 units, a 1.7% increase year-over-year,” adding, “Sales of eco-friendly vehicles are projected to rise by more than 40% year-over-year.”
The analysis suggests that despite a slowdown in global demand and the impact of a fire at a supplier facility, the company is minimizing the adverse effects of the deteriorating market environment by expanding sales of eco-friendly vehicles, such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Analyst Kim assessed, “The improvement in product mix resulting from the increased share of eco-friendly vehicles will also have a positive impact on revenue growth.”
However, he noted that profitability in the second quarter could temporarily slow. Analyst Kim projected, “Despite the easing of tariff burdens, the operating profit margin (OPM) for the second quarter is expected to decline by 0.6 percentage points year-over-year due to rising raw material prices, increased research and development (R&D) investment, and the impact of sales warranty costs and foreign exchange gains or losses resulting from exchange rate fluctuations.”
He expects the effects of sales expansion driven by new models to take full effect in the second half of the year. “Sales of the Telluride are expanding in the North American market, and U.S. production of the Sportage Hybrid is ramping up,” he said. “In Europe, increased sales of the entry-level EV2 electric vehicle will further accelerate revenue and profit growth.”
He also highlighted the robotics business as a key investment factor. Analyst Kim remarked, “The value of the robotics business has not been fully reflected in the stock price,” adding, “There is a high likelihood that Kia’s role and equity value will be reevaluated during Hyundai Motor Group’s commercialization of humanoid robots.”
The outlook is that, starting with the launch of the Robotics Research and Manufacturing Center (RMAC) this August, a mass-production development system—spanning data collection, training, motion generation, and validation for humanoid robots—will be fully operational. He also predicted that the establishment of a robotics hardware and software value chain, aimed at industrial application by 2028, will gain momentum.
In particular, attention was drawn to the possibility of Kia securing additional equity stakes during the large-scale investment process for the commercialization of Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot “Atlas.” Analyst Kim explained, “The value of the robotics equity stake, which was not fully reflected even in previous capital increases, could serve as a factor in the future reassessment of the stock price.”
Analyst Kim stated, “Considering its solid fundamentals and its role and significance within the group’s robotics business, the stock has significant upside potential.”