Kia's headquarters has verified the conclusion of the brand's leading luxury passenger car.

The Kia K9 large sedan functions as the flagship offering in the Korean home market and serves as the company's interpretation of the prior-generation Genesis G80.

With buyer interest moving toward SUVs and electric powertrains, Kia will end output of the 5.1m-long luxury model by the close of 2026 after 14 years on sale, with no replacement scheduled, according to Korean outlet Hankyung.

The original Kia K9 arrived in 2012 and appeared as the K900 in the US and Canada plus the Quoris in other export regions such as Russia.

Built on a rear-wheel-drive platform shared with the first Hyundai Genesis, the K9 and K900 marked Kia's move into premium segments by offering a large rear-drive sedan with V6 and V8 petrol power.

The second-generation model debuted at the 2018 New York motor show on the Hyundai Group's M2 platform also used by the second-generation Hyundai Genesis that reached Australia in 2014 before becoming the Genesis G80 in 2019. Both rear- and all-wheel-drive versions were offered.

Kia ended K900 sales in the US during 2021 before the updated model reached the Korean market that same year, the version shown in this report. Like the first model, it was never produced in right-hand drive and therefore never reached Australia.

Kia K9 sales inside Korea have fallen sharply in recent years, the Hankyung report states.

The brand recorded 6585 units sold domestically in 2022, a figure that dropped to 1870 units across 2024.

In the most recent full year Kia delivered just 1581 K9 sedans, a further 15.4 per cent decline from the prior low. So far in 2026 the publication reports only 734 examples sold during the first half.

Hyundai Motor Group's broad sedan lineup is viewed as a major factor behind the K9's exit from the Korean market, with the current Genesis G80 maintaining steady annual sales of 40,000-50,000 units since 2020.

The Hyundai Grandeur, known as the Azera elsewhere, is also considered a contributor after growing to similar overall dimensions as the K9 while adding many of the group's premium features and technologies. Hyundai's large sedan ranks among Korea's strongest-selling new vehicles.

The Kia K9 range in South Korea currently opens at 60,340,000 won (A$57,384), with the top 3.3T AWD Masters variant reaching 79,940,000 won (A$76,023).

Key equipment includes quilted Nappa leather trim, natural wood accents, comprehensive driver assistance systems, connected infotainment features, and the option of the group's 272kW 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine.

Ending K9 production is expected to free factory space and staff for upcoming electric vehicles. One candidate is the new PV7, a larger companion to the PV5 due to enter production next year.

The report also references Project XV1, a compact electric hatchback planned for Korea and Europe with a launch targeted before the end of 2027. This model is understood to be the EV1 counterpart to the existing Picanto city car.

Additional Kia launches noted include the larger PV9 electric purpose-built vehicle slated for 2029, while Level 2++ autonomous technology is under development for a 2029 introduction that would permit driverless operation even in city environments.