The number of Souls sold in European countries last month totaled 1,626, compared with 745 tallied in the previous month, according to the data compiled by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.
The figure, a 54-month high, nearly doubles a monthly average of 839 Souls sold in in Europe the first nine months of this year.
In Italy alone, sales of the "Papal Mobil" jumped 149.4 percent to 217 units on-month in September, the data said.
Pope Francis, who has vowed not to use bullet-proof vehicles since he took over the papacy in March last year, used the Kia small car during his visit to South Korea from Aug. 14 to 18.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
