Kia facts for kids
Logo since 2021
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Global headquarters in Seoul
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Native name
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기아 주식회사
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Formerly
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| Traded as | KRX: 000270 |
| Industry | |
| Founded | June 9, 1944 |
| Headquarters | , |
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Area served
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Worldwide (except Japan, North Korea, Cuba, Afghanistan) |
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Key people
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| Products |
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Production output
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 2.6 million (2021) |
| Revenue | ₩86.559 trillion (2022) |
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Operating income
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₩7.2331 trillion (2022) |
| ₩5.409 trillion (2022) |
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| Total assets | ₩73.711 trillion (2022) |
| Total equity | ₩39.3431 trillion (2022) |
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Number of employees
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51,975 (2021) |
| Subsidiaries |
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| Kia | |
| Hangul |
기아
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| Hanja |
起亞
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| Revised Romanization | Gia |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kia |
Kia Corporation is a big company from South Korea that makes cars. Its main office is in Seoul. It is the second largest car maker in South Korea, right after its parent company, Hyundai Motor Company. In 2019, Kia sold over 2.8 million vehicles around the world.
Hyundai owns about 33.88% of Kia. In return, Kia also owns small parts of more than twenty Hyundai companies.
Contents
What Does the Name "Kia" Mean?
The name "Kia" comes from two Sino-Korean characters. The first, ki (起), means 'to arise'. The second, a (亞), stands for 'Asia'. So, the name "Kia" roughly means "Rising from Asia."
Kia's Journey: A Look at Its History
How Kia Started and Grew
Kia began on June 9, 1944. It was first called Kyungsung Precision Industry. The company started by making steel tubes and parts for bicycles. In 1951, they made Korea's first bicycle, called the Samchuly.
In 1952, the company changed its name to Kia Industries. Later, they started building small motorcycles under a Honda license in 1957. By 1962, they were making Mazda-licensed trucks, and cars by 1974. Kia opened its first car factory, the Sohari Plant, in 1973.
Kia made small cars like the Brisa until 1981. Then, a new government rule made Kia stop making passenger cars. They had to focus only on light trucks. Kia made a few more cars in 1982 and 1983, but no passenger cars were built in 1984 and 1985.
Working with Ford and Entering the U.S. Market
In 1986, Kia started making cars again with Ford. Kia produced several vehicles based on Mazda designs. These cars were sold in South Korea and exported to other countries as budget-friendly options.
Some models included the Kia Pride (based on the Mazda 121) and the Avella. These were sold in North America and Australia as the Ford Festiva and Ford Aspire.
In 1992, Kia Motors America was created in the United States. The first Kia cars were sold in the U.S. in 1993, from four dealerships in Portland, Oregon. Kia slowly grew, adding more dealerships and models. By 1995, there were over one hundred Kia dealerships in thirty states. They sold a record 24,740 cars that year.
Hyundai Takes Over Kia
In 1997, Kia faced financial trouble during the Asian financial crisis. In 1998, Hyundai Motor Company bought 51% of Kia. Hyundai outbid Ford, which had owned a part of Kia since 1986. Today, Hyundai Motor Company owns about one-third of Kia. Kia also owns parts of some Hyundai companies.
Recent Developments
Since 2005, Kia has focused on making its cars look great. They hired Peter Schreyer in 2006 as their chief design officer. He created a new look for Kia cars called the 'Tiger Nose' grille.
In 2006, Kia Motors America started building a factory in West Point, Georgia. This factory, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, opened in February 2010. It was a big investment for the company. In early 2021, Kia also updated its logo to a new, angular design.
Kia Around the World: Affiliates and Subsidiaries
Kia America
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Kia America, Inc. handles sales, marketing, and distribution for Kia in the United States. It started in California in 1992. Kia America is based in Irvine, California. It sells a full range of vehicles through over 755 dealers across the U.S.
The first Kia models sold in the U.S. in 1993 were the KIA Sephia and Kia Sportage 4x4. Newer models like the 2018 Stinger and 2020 Telluride have won many awards. Kia America has consistently improved its market share. From 2015 to 2019, it was named the top mass-market brand for initial quality by J.D. Power.
In November 2009, Kia started making cars at its first U.S. plant in West Point, Georgia. This factory, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, first made the Kia Sorento. Later, it added the Kia Optima (now K5) and the Kia Telluride. By September 2019, the plant had built over 3 million vehicles. It can produce 340,000 vehicles per year.
Kia Canada
Kia Canada was created in 1999 to serve the Canadian market. Its main office is in Mississauga, Ontario. Kia Canada is known for its SUVs and crossovers. It is also increasingly known for its electric and hybrid cars. In 2021, Kia Canada introduced a new logo and slogan: "Movement that inspires." That year, Kia Canada sold nearly 80,000 vehicles.
Kia Europe
Kia Europe handles sales and marketing for Kia in Europe. It has been selling cars there since 1991. Kia Motors Europe was officially founded in 1995. Its European headquarters moved to Eschborn (near Frankfurt) around 2005. In 2007, it moved to a new building in Frankfurt city center.
When Kia first launched in Europe in 1991, it sold only the Kia Pride supermini. This car was a redesigned version of the 1980s Mazda 121. It was popular at first. By the end of 1991, Kia sold almost 1,800 Prides in the United Kingdom. Sales grew until 1993, but then fell. Production of the Pride ended in 2000.
From 1995 to 1999, Kia made the first Kia Sportage SUV in Germany. Since 2002, Kia has sold more SUVs thanks to the larger Kia Sorento. Kia's range of cars in Europe grew over time. By 2009, Kia was a popular brand in Britain, selling over 50,000 cars a year. The Kia Picanto was the most popular model.
In late 2006, Kia opened its first factory in Europe in Žilina, Slovakia. This plant cost about 1.7 billion Euros. It has produced over 2.5 million units of the Kia Cee'd, Kia Sportage, and Kia Venga. In 2016, the factory made 339,500 cars and 612,915 engines.
Kia Mexico
Kia built a $1 billion factory in the Mexican state of Nuevo León. This plant can produce 300,000 cars a year. The factory is in the city of Pesquería. It was expected to be finished in the first half of 2016.
Kia India
Kia entered the Indian market in July 2019 with its SUV, the Kia Seltos. The company built a factory in Anantpur district, Andhra Pradesh. This factory can produce 300,000 cars per year. Kia has invested about $1.1 billion to grow its operations in India. This includes building a network of over 250 customer service points. On July 31, 2020, Kia sold 100,000 cars in India. This made it the fastest car maker to reach that number.
Kia Defense
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Kia Motors also makes military vehicles. They have been the only maker of military vehicles for the South Korean Government since 1976. Kia is currently designing a vehicle called the KM450 for the South Korean Army. This vehicle is similar to a Kaiser Jeep M715. Kia also owns the former Asia Motors factory in Gwangju.
Popular Kia Models
Top-Selling Kia Cars in 2021
| Rank | Model | Global sales |
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| 1 | Sportage/KX5 | 359,800 |
| 2 | Seltos/KX3 | 318,034 |
| 3 | Rio/K2 | 241,658 |
| 4 | Forte/Cerato/K3 | 241,138 |
| 5 | Sorento | 222,629 |
| 6 | Optima/K5 | 207,359 |
| 7 | Picanto/Morning | 168,729 |
| 8 | Niro | 151,122 |
| 9 | Carnival | 124,496 |
| 10 | Stonic/KX1 | 106,246 |
How Kia Designs Its Cars
In the past, the Kia cars were very neutral. When you saw one on the road, you didn't really know if it was Korean or Japanese...I think it's very important that you are able to recognize a Kia at first sight.
Starting in 2006, Kia decided that design would be its "core future growth engine." This led to hiring Peter Schreyer as chief design officer in 2006. Schreyer had worked at Audi and Volkswagen before. He designed the Audi TT.
Schreyer has been key to completely redesigning Kia's cars. He oversees design work at Kia's design centers in Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and South Korea. With the Kee concept car, shown in 2007, Kia introduced a new grille. This grille is called the Tiger Nose. Schreyer wanted it to be a strong, recognizable "face" for the brand. He said, "A car needs a face and I think the new Kia face is strong and distinctive."
Since then, Kia has put the Tiger Nose on all its vehicles. This includes the small Kia Soul, the sleek Kia Optima, and the large Kia Telluride SUV. Kia cars have won the Road & Travel Magazine's International Car of the Year award three years in a row (2013, 2014, and 2015).
Kia Logo History
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1953–1964
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1964–1986
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1986-1994
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1994–2012
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2012–2021
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2021–present
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Kia's Sponsorships
Kia Motors sponsors many sports teams, events, places, and famous people:
Places
Sports Groups
- League of Legends European Championship (LEC)
- FIFA
- UEFA
- Liga ACB
- National Basketball Association (NBA)
- Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sports Events
- Archery World Cup
- Asian Games
- Australian Open (tennis tournament)
- Copa América
- FIBA Asia Championship
- FIFA World Cup
- Kia Classic (LPGA)
- Kia Lotos Race
- Kia Super League (cricket)
- Korea Speed Festival
- UEFA Europa League
- Universiade
- X Games
- X Games Asia
Sports Teams
- A.C. Monza (Italian football team)
- Atlético Madrid (Spanish football club, from 2005 to 2011)
- Bengaluru FC (Indian Football Club, from 2018 to 2020)
- Boston United FC (English Football Club)
- Brisbane Broncos (National Rugby League)
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (National Rugby League)
- Dplus KIA (South Korean esports team)
- England women's cricket team
- FC Hansa Rostock (German football team, from 1999 to 2002)
- FC Steaua București (Romanian football team)
- Greater Western Sydney Giants (Australian Football League)
- Kia Forte (Shakey's V-League)
- Kia Picanto (Philippine Basketball Association)
- Kia Speed Skating Academy
- Kia Tigers (Korean Baseball Team in Gwangju, South Korea)
- Philippines national football team
- Qormi FC (Maltese football team)
- Rogue (European esports team)
- Slovakia national football team
- South Korea national speed skating team
- Surrey County Cricket Club
- Udinese Calcio (Italian football team, from 2004 to 2006)
- Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic
Athletes
- Fernando González (Chilean tennis player)
- LeBron James (Global brand ambassador)
- Blake Griffin (NBA basketball player)
- Lee Sang-hwa (Speed skater)
- Rafael Nadal (Global brand ambassador)
- Manny Pacquiao (Filipino boxer)
- Michelle Wie (Official golf ambassador)
- Dylan Alcott (Australian tennis player)
Actors
Musicians
Music Events
- Live at The chapel (Australian music concert)
- Vans Warped Tour
- YouTube Music Awards (2013)
- Melon Music Awards (2019)
Entertainment
- Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest (2020–24)
- Inside the NBA
- Tobot
- X-Men
Kia Slogans
- The Car That Cares (2000–2005)
- The Power To Surprise (2005–2021)
- Give It Everything (2019–2021, United States)
- Movement that inspires (2021–present, Worldwide)
See also
In Spanish: Kia Motors para niños
- List of Kia design and manufacturing facilities
- Automotive industry in South Korea
- Hyundai Motor Group
- Kia EcoDynamics
- Economy of South Korea
