Kia Motors will offer customers who buy its premium K9 sedan a luxury chauffeur service in a bid to turn around disappointing sales, it announced on Tuesday.

New owners can enjoy being driven around by professional uniformed drivers for up to eight hours a day if they request the service in advance, for a total of three times over a three-year period.

Kia targeted monthly sales of 2,000 units when it launched the model in May last year, but failed to reach half the target due to the protracted downturn and the growing popularity of foreign imports. This led it to dream up the new promotional service.

Buyers of K9s can also get free repair services eight times in as many years and use the lounges and valet parking services at Incheon International Airport for free.