Kia facts for kids
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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 |
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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) |
| Owners |
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Number of employees
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51,975 (2021) |
| Parent | Hyundai Motor Company |
| Subsidiaries |
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| Kia | |
| Hangul |
기아
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| Hanja |
起亞
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| RR | Gia |
| MR | Kia |
Kia Corporation is a big South Korean company that makes cars. Its main office is in Seoul, South Korea. Kia 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 a big part of Kia, and Kia also owns parts of many Hyundai companies.
| Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
What Does "Kia" Mean?
The name "Kia" comes from two Hanja words. The first word, 起 (pronounced ki), means 'to arise' or 'to come out of'. The second word, 亞 (pronounced a), stands for 'Asia'. So, the name "Kia" roughly means "Rising from Asia".
How Kia Started and Grew
Early Days and First Vehicles
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 very first bicycle, called the Samchuly.
In 1952, the company changed its name to Kia Industries. Later, they started building small motorcycles under a license from Honda (starting in 1957). They also made trucks (from 1962) and cars (from 1974) under a license from Mazda.
Kia opened its first big car factory, the Sohari Plant, in 1973. They built small cars like the Kia Brisa, which were based on Mazda designs.
Changes and New Partnerships
In 1981, a new government rule made Kia stop making passenger cars. They had to focus only on light trucks. However, Kia started making cars again in 1986. This time, they partnered with Ford.
Kia made several vehicles based on Mazda designs for sale in South Korea and for export. These cars were known for being affordable. Some models, like the Kia Pride and Kia Avella, were sold in North America 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, starting in Portland, Oregon. By 1995, Kia had over 100 dealerships in 30 states and sold many cars.
Becoming Part of Hyundai
In 1997, during a financial crisis in Asia, Kia faced difficulties. In 1998, Hyundai Motor Company bought a large part of Kia. Hyundai now owns about one-third of Kia. Even so, Kia also owns parts of many Hyundai companies.
Modern Kia Design
Since 2005, Kia has focused a lot on its car designs, especially for the European market. They hired Peter Schreyer in 2006 to be their chief design officer. He created a new, recognizable front grille for Kia cars, which he called the 'Tiger Nose'. He wanted people to know a Kia car just by looking at its front.
In 2010, Kia opened a big factory in West Point, Georgia, in the United States. This factory was a huge investment for the company.
In early 2021, Kia started using a new, modern "KIA" logo.
Who Leads Kia?
Here are some of the important people on Kia's board of directors as of March 2023:
- Chung Eui-sun: He is the Chairman.
- Song Ho-sung: He is the President and CEO.
- Woo-Jeong Joo: He is the Executive Vice President and CFO (Chief Financial Officer).
Kia Around the World
Kia America
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Kia America, Inc. handles sales, marketing, and distribution for Kia in the United States. It started in 1992 and is based in Irvine, California. They sell many different types of vehicles through over 755 dealerships. The first Kia models sold in the U.S. were the KIA Sephia and Kia Sportage in 1993.
Kia America has been doing very well. For several years in a row (2015–2019), it was recognized for having the highest quality among mass-market car brands.
In 2009, Kia started making cars at its first U.S. plant in West Point, Georgia. This factory first made the Kia Sorento. Later, it also started producing the Kia Optima (now called K5) and the Kia Telluride. By September 2019, the factory had built over 3 million vehicles. It can make 340,000 vehicles each year.
Kia Canada
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, which are popular vehicles. They are also making more electric and hybrid cars. In 2021, Kia Canada introduced a new logo and slogan: "Movement that inspires".
Kia Europe
Kia Europe is in charge of sales and marketing for Kia cars in Europe. They have been selling cars there since 1991.
Kia's European headquarters moved to Eschborn (near Frankfurt) in Germany. In 2007, they moved to a new building in Frankfurt city center.
When Kia first started in Europe in 1991, they sold the Kia Pride. This car was a redesigned version of the Mazda 121. It was popular at first, but sales later slowed down.
From 1995 to 1999, Kia made the Kia Sportage SUV in Germany. This car was popular across Europe. Later, the larger Kia Sorento helped Kia sell even more SUVs.
In 2006, Kia opened its first factory in Europe. It is located in Žilina, Slovakia. This factory has made over 2.5 million cars, including the Kia Cee'd, Kia Sportage, and Kia Venga. It also makes seven types of engines.
Kia Mexico
Kia built a large car factory in Pesquería, Mexico. This factory can produce 300,000 cars each year. The plant was finished in the first half of 2016.
Kia India
Kia India Kia entered the Indian market in July 2019 with their SUV, the Kia Seltos. The company built a big production facility in Anantpur district, Andhra Pradesh. This factory can produce 350,000 cars each year.
Kia has invested a lot of money to grow its business in India. This includes building a network of over 250 places where customers can buy cars, get service, and find spare parts. On July 31, 2020, Kia reached a milestone of 100,000 car sales in India. They were the fastest car maker to do this.
Kia Defense
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Kia Motors also makes military vehicles. They have been the only company chosen by the South Korean Government to make military vehicles since 1976. Kia designs vehicles like the Kia KM450 for the South Korean Army. They also own 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 |
Kia's Design Focus
Kia decided in 2006 that design would be a key part of its future growth. This led to hiring Peter Schreyer as Chief Design Officer. He had worked for other famous car companies like Audi and Volkswagen.
Schreyer helped redesign all of Kia's cars. He oversaw design teams in Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and South Korea.
With a special concept car called the Kee in 2007, Kia showed off its new "Tiger Nose" grille. Schreyer wanted this grille to be a strong, recognizable "face" for all Kia cars. He said, "A car needs a face and I think the new Kia face is strong and distinctive." Since then, every Kia vehicle has featured the Tiger Nose grille.
Kia cars have won awards for their design, including the Road & Travel Magazine International Car of the Year award in 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 Sponsorships
Kia Motors sponsors many sports teams, events, and famous people.
Places Kia Sponsors
- Kia Arena (a sports venue)
- Kia Center (an arena)
- Kia Forum (an entertainment venue)
- Kia Oval (a cricket ground)
Sports Events Kia Sponsors
- Australian Open (a big tennis tournament)
- FIFA World Cup (the biggest soccer tournament)
- UEFA Europa League (a European soccer competition)
- X Games (extreme sports events)
Sports Teams Kia Sponsors
- Atlanta Falcons (an American football team)
- Atlético Madrid (a Spanish professional soccer club)
- Dplus KIA (a South Korean esports team)
- Kia Tigers (a Korean Baseball Team)
- Slovakia national football team (Slovakia's national soccer team)
Famous People Kia Sponsors
- LeBron James (a famous basketball player)
- Rafael Nadal (a famous tennis player)
- Manny Pacquiao (a famous boxer)
Musicians Kia Sponsors
Kia Slogans
- The Car That Cares (2000–2005)
- The Power To Surprise (2005–2021)
- Give It Everything (2019–2021, in the 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
