By the end of 2026, Kia will halt production of the K9 / K900 flagship sedan.

In the Hyundai-Kia product hierarchy, the K9 has always played a secondary role compared to its platform-mate in the same class, the Genesis G90, reports Drom.ru. In return, the Kia K9 was offered at a more attractive price.

Although the Kia K9 lagged behind the Genesis G90 in interior trim quality, range of trim levels, and equipment, it was always offered with all the same powertrains as the Genesis G90, including the 5.0-liter V8 version. In its current generation, the model was even available with all-wheel drive.

At the peak of its popularity, the K9's sales markets covered South Korea, the US and Canada, Russia, the UAE, and some Latin American countries. Over the past couple of years, the Kia K9 has remained a model sold only domestically in South Korea.

The discontinuation of the K9 production program comes as no great surprise — demand for large sedans has fallen sharply, reflecting current market conditions. In Korea, only 1,581 units of the K9 were sold in 2025, and 734 in the first half of 2026.

The Kia K9 retains one minor but notable distinction: like the Genesis G90, the Kia K9 never came equipped with an engine of fewer than six cylinders.