KIA Motors

KIA Motors Global

The history of KIA Corporation started in 1944. Promptly after its establishment, the Company chose the production of personal vehicles as its key business.

In 1952 the company was the first to produce a native Korean bicycle; own production of bicycles meant a true technology break-through. It changed its name to KIA INDUSTRIAL COMPANY at about the same time; the company was re-named next in 1990 to KIA MOTORS Corp.
The word KIA can be translated as "coming out of Asia".

KIA started the manufacture of motor-bikes С-100 almost a decade later, in October 1961, thus laying the ground for motorcycle production in Korea. And three months after that KIA assembled a three-wheel truck К360.

In 1965 КIA penetrated the USA market, starting with an offer of its bikes to American customers. Another 6 years later KIA plants started the production of four-wheel trucks Titan and Boxer.

The above models enjoyed broad customer acclaim and became so popular that TITAN brand became a common noun and was used for some years to denote a truck generally.

In 1972 Kia Industrial Company obtained a manufacturing license, and the first Korean petrol-fueled engine was designed some months later.

In 1974 the first Korean passenger car Brisa left the assembly line of the company’s Sohari Plant, that car became a pioneer of the Korean car exports at a later stage. KIA was again the first in Korea to use a diesel engine in its cars in the late 1970s.

The Company’s rise as a major global player marked the 1990s: its new car makes enjoyed international customer recognition and popularity; a number of new manufacturing plants were established; the Corporation established a subsidiary in USA and launched one of its models at the European markets for the first time.

In 1998 the company was acquired by Hyundai Motors Corporation, and this acquisition brought a dramatic change in KIA economic policies. Nowadays vehicles with KIA logo are offered at the markets of 170 countries, and the total production exceeds 650,000 vehicles annually.

KIA Motors

Close