Kia Stinger not dead yet, despite reports production is due to end next year

UPDATE, 21 December 2022: Kia has now confirmed production of the Stinger will come to an end, expected in the first half of 2023. Click here to read more. Our original story continues below.

26 October 2022: Representatives for Kia Australia say the Stinger remains in production and on sale locally for the foreseeable future – despite overseas reports claiming the model will reach the end of the line next year.

The Kia Stinger may have been in a hit in Australia following the end of local production of Holden Commodore V8s and Ford Falcon performance sedans, but the model has not met sales expectations globally.

This has sparked a series of reports out of South Korea over the past two years claiming the Stinger's days are numbered – including the most recent coverage last week, which said the production line will fall silent in April 2023.

The general manager of product planning for Kia Australia declined to discuss future model plans, but told Drive the Stinger remains in production, available to order, and there has been no indication of when the model is due to be phased out.

"The same media outlet that speculated the demise of the Stinger last year is now making new allegations. They said Stinger would be gone by now, and it is still in production," Mr Rivero told Drive.

"There has been no advice to us from Kia head office that anything has changed for Stinger. Therefore from our perspective it is business as usual. Different models have different model cycles. As far as we are concerned, the Stinger remains available and in production for the foreseeable future."