Kia Silently Kills Rondo, Borrego in the US

South Korean carmaker Kia Motors decided to discontinue two of its models in the United States and, although the company hasn't released an official statement on the matter, it's probably the low sales that stopped the duo's production. Both the Rondo compact van and the Borrego mid-sized SUV disappeared from Kia's lineup for the 2011 model year after posting pretty low sales in 2010.

A Kia spokesman confirmed for Automotive News that the two models have been scrapped from the company's range of products in the United States, but he hasn't provided any details on the matter. The two will continue to be available in other markets, including in Canada.

To give an idea on how bad the two vehicles performed in 2010, it's worth mentioning that each posted sales drops, while the parent manufacturer registered a growth of 19 percent as compared to the year before. Sales of the Borrego decreased by 7 percent versus 2009 to 9,835 units, while Rondo deliveries fell by 75 percent to 3,588 units.

With everybody asking whether the South Korean manufacturer is working on a replacement for the two, industry analysts are trying to explain the reason behind the decision. Besides failing to raise to the expectations when it comes to sales, their old features, design and technical specifications might have also contributed to Kia's decision to oust the two.

“The Rondo is a product that was getting very, very long in the tooth,” said Ed Kim, director of industry analysis at AutoPacific Inc. “It's an older product with an older level of execution and a product that I wouldn't consider to be very competitive with these new vehicles that are hitting the market.”