KIA. KIA in KOREA
Kia Motors, 231 Yangjae-Dong, Seocho-Ku, Seoul, 137-938, Korea
tel. +822/34641114, fax +822/34646857, http://www.kia.co.kr,www.kiamotors.com
Models
produced in Korea: Morning / Picanto, Pride / Rio (hatchback, sedan), Cerato / Spectra II (sedan, hatchback),
Optima / Magentis, Optima
(Korea), Optima Regal, Opirus / Amanti, Carens II, Carnival /
Sedona, Sedona II, Sportage, Sorento, Jeep J7-KM 42.
Production volume
in Korea in 2003 - 789,146 vehicles.
Founded in 1944, Kyungsung Precizion
Industry has been known since March 1952 as Kia Industry Corp. and Kia Motors as of March 1990. Kia launched motorcycle
production in 1961 and three-wheel delivery vehicles in 1962, followed in 1971 by trucks and in October 1974 by the first Kia
passenger sedan, the Brisa S100 under a Mazda Familia
license. In the years 1979-81 Fiat 132 and Peugeot 604 vehicles were also assembled here. Since 1976 the Kia concern has
owned 28.3%
of Asia shares. Cars made under the Asia trademark
were built from 1965-2000. In
March 1999 Hyundai acquired 25% of Kia and Asia shares. These two firms were merged
within the framework of the Hyundai Motor Corporation. At the
end of 1999, Hyundai increased its share in Kia to 39.94%, in 2001 - to 46.12%, in 2003 - to 47.39% and in 2004 - to
45.4%. Kia passenger vehicles are made in Korea, Slovakia
(since 2006) and China (Yueda Kia 1997-2002, Dongfeng Yueda Kia since 2002) as well as assembled in Egypt (since 1998), the
Philippines (1989-2003),
Indonesia (since 1997),
Malaysia (since 2001),
Thailand (since 2003),
Vietnam (since 1994),
Russia (since 1997),
Pakistan (since 2000)
and Ecuador (2001-2004). Under license, Kia also produces: since 2003
the Naza in Malaysia, since 1993
the Saipa Nasim /
Saba (Kia Pride) and since 2005
the Saipa Rio in Iran. Latest premieres: Paris 2002 - Rio restyling (designated for Europe), Magentis /
Optima restyling and KCV-II concept car; Seoul 2002
-Carnival Limousine prototype; Los Angeles 2003 -Sorento Surf and Cinco Swim concept cars; Detroit 2003 -KCD 1 Slice concept
car; Geneva 2003 - Opirus; New York 2003 - Amanti (Opirus for the American market); May 2003
- X-Treck; Frankfurt/Main 2003
- Picanto / Morning and KCV III roadster concept car;
November
2003 - Cerato sedan; Detroit 2004 - Spectra II; Chicago
2004 - KCV-4 Mojave pick-up concept car; Geneva 2004
- Cerato hatch back and Cerato Green Concept; New York 2004 - Spectra II hatchback; April 2004
- Rio SF restyling; Paris 2004
- Sportage II, Sport hatchback prototype and Sportage
FCEV concept car; Detroit 2005 - Rio II sedan, SUV KCD-II Musa concept car; Chicago 2005 - Sedona II; Geneva 2005
- Rio II hatchback; Seoul 2005
-Pride II, JB Sport hatchback concept car. In 2001 production of the Potentia sedan was concluded,
followed in 2002 by the Enterprise,
Towner and Carstar / Joice
models, in 2003 by the Sportage I (in
Korea), Retona Cruiser, Spectra (for Korea) and Spectra Wing models and in 2004 by the Sephia II /
Mentor II / Spectra sedan, Shuma II / Spectra hatchback (in Korea), Visto and X-Treck vehicles. Plans for the
future: 2005 - Optima / Magentis II; 2006
- Carnival II. In 2003 Kia produced a total of 911,278 passenger vehicles, trucks and buses in 13
countries (under the Kia, Naza and Dongfeng Yueda Kia
trademarks; excluding SAIPA).
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