Kia Motors reported an operating profit of 2.3 trillion won ($2 billion) during the first half of 2012, up 25 percent on the same period last year.

The automaker also saw its sales increase by 9.5 percent to 24.3 trillion won and net profit rise by 10.4 percent to 2.2 trillion won, posting all-time high figures on its financial statements.

Despite global economic uncertainties, Kia recorded sales growth of 17.8 percent in the United States, 24.5 percent in Europe and 16.3 percent China.

It sold 289,000 vehicles in the U.S. market, followed by 221,000 units in China and 170,000 units in Europe. It operates factories in the three major automotive markets.

Kia sold about 1.35 million vehicles worldwide in the first six months, up 12 percent from a year earlier.

“We have attained a better performance in the first half on the back of improved global competitiveness of our products despite global economic woes and the persistent European fiscal crisis,” the company said in a statement.

It sold 3,158 units of the new luxury sedan K9, released earlier in the year for the local market, in the first half.

A Kia executive said another K series car, the K3 compact, will be released in September to spearhead the company’s domestic sales. Kia sells the K9, the K7 and the K5 in the South Korean market.

He said the company expects the K3 to become its top selling model with yearly sales of 450,000 units.

But Kia saw its second-quarter earnings inch down 2.8 percent on-year due mainly to losses from its equity holdings in affiliates.

Net income came to 1.09 trillion won in the April-June period, compared to 1.12 trillion won tallied a year ago, it said in a regulatory filing.

Kia executives said the company is aiming to sell over 3 million vehicles worldwide next year by making the best of the new assembly lines in China and promoting the K3 sedan.

By Kim Yon-se (kys@heraldcorp.com)