Starting from producing domestic bicycles, KIA reaches the world markets for auto vehicles

Story and photos by Chhay Sophal

Cambodia News and New Youth

Gwangju, South Korea: Coming in a row with different colors from inside the assembly operation hall, each car is ready to be driven out by KIA employees.

KIA Motors Gwangju Plant – south of Seoul — is one of four KIA production facilities in Korea producing about 1.86 million units a year

Mr. HAM Chang-gyun, Assistant Manager at KIA Motors Gwangju Plant said that Kia in 2012 had surpassed 2.7 million units of global sales for a year-on-year increase of around 10%. The Top-5 selling models in overseas markets in 2012 were the Rio, Sportage, Cerato (Forte), Optima and Sorento, he added.

Over the last 10 years, KIA and its parent firm — Hyundai Motor — have improved KIA’s products by generating increased demand and implemented its ‘Glocalization’ policy of meeting local demand with locally-made vehicles – investing heavily to create state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in the world’s most strategic automotive markets, China (2 plants in Jiangsu Province, with 3^rd plant currently under construction), Europe (Slovakia) and most recently, in the USA (Georgia).

According to KIA record, Kia began its first phase expansion into multiple regions in 1992, starting with the establishment of Kia Motors America; and the following year, the company set up a European network covering 16 countries including Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Greece, Italy, Switzerland and France. In 1996, Kia also completed a joint venture for a production facility in China, the record said.

Over 2.5 million Kia vehicles a year are produced in 15 manufacturing and assembly operations in ten countries which are then sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 149 countries, Mr. HAM Chang-gyun said by adding that Kia today has over 90,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues of US$39 billion.

He said every Kia vehicle is designed to deliver maximum protection to occupants – by enabling the driver to avoid hazards, or if an accident is unavoidable, by deploying the latest safety technologies. A total of seven new generation Kia vehicles have been awarded the ‘Top Safety Pick‘ from the IIHS in the USA, while the Soul, cee’d, Venga, all-new Sorento, all-new  Sportage and all-new Rio have also earned a 5-Star Euro NCAP crash safety rating.

Founded in Seoul in 1944, KIA started its production by making bicycles and from the humble beginning and in 1961, the company began manufacturing the ‘Kia Honda’ – a two-wheel motorcycle – and the following year Kia introduced Korea’s first three-wheel motorcar, the ‘Kia Master’.

Through 68 years of change and transformation, the company has grown to become one of the world’s leading automakers. According to KIA report, KIA entered Inter-brand’s exclusive list of the ‘Top 100 Best Global Brands’ with an estimated brand value of US$4.1 billion of in 2012, according to KIA record.

To ensure that discoveries made within R&D centers are also relevant in the ‘real’ world, Kia is already marketing its first full-electric vehicle – the Ray EV – in Korea, and will enter production with its first global EV model in 2014, the record said.

KIA’s Major Milestones (SOURCE: KIA Motors Gwangju Plant – south of Seoul)

2012

– All-new third-generation Kia Cerato (Forte) premiers at Los Angeles Motor Show

– Kia Motors enters the ranks of InterBrand’s ‘Top 100 Best Global Brands’

– New Kia cee’d acclaimed for exterior and interior design at Automotive Brand Awards

– World premiere of all-new Kia Carens compact MPV at Paris Motor Show

– Kia launches USD $13 Million ‘Green Light Project’ to improve social mobility of needy children

– Construction begins for third China plant with a 300,000-unit annual capacity

– All-new elegant and luxury flagship sedan Kia Quoris (K9) is launched

– Kia Picanto and Rio win red dot ‘Product Design’ awards

– All-new Kia cee’d premiers at Geneva Motor Show

2011

– Launched all-new Picanto mini car

– Launched all-new Rio compact hatchback and sedan

– Surpassed 10 million cumulative export mark

– Optima earns 5-star crash safety rating from NHTSA in the US

– Optima and Sportage win prestigious red dot design awards

– Rio 5-door earns 5 stars for accident safety from Euro NCAP

– Picanto wins prestigious iF Design Award

– Kia named “Best of Best” in design among all brands in inaugural Automotive Brand Contest

– Optima Hybrid sets new Guinness World Record^® for fuel economy in a hybrid car

– Ray EV (electric vehicle) launched in Korean market

2010

– Launched Cadenza flagship premium sedan

– Launched all-new Sportage CUV

– Launched all-new Optima mid-size sedan

– Launched Cerato (Forte) 5-door hatchback

– Unveiled POP electric concept car at Paris Motor Show

– Unveiled Ray plug-in concept car at Chicago Motor Show

– Surpassed 2 million unit global sales for the first time

– Exported 1 millionth vehicle to Central & South America

– Sponsored the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™

– Optima and Sportage named “Top Safety Pick” by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

(IIHS) in the US

– Optima and Sportage win iF Design Awards

2009

– Launched all-new Sorento SUV

– Launched Cerato Koup

– Commenced production at Kia’s first U.S. plant in Georgia, making Kia the only automaker to open a new manufacturing facility in the US in 2009

– Kia Soul becomes first Korean car ever to receive prestigious design recognition from world renowned ‘red dot’ awards

– Commenced sales of Forte LPi Hybrid, the world’s first hybrid vehicle powered by LPG and lithium polymer battery

– Kia Soul and all-new Sorento awarded 5-Star Euro NCAP safety rating

– Environment-friendly sub-brand for all future emissions and fuel consumption lowering vehicles – EcoDynamics – unveiled

2008

– Launched all-new Soul Urban crossover passenger car

– Launched all-new Mohave (Borrego) 7-seat SUV

– Launched all-new Cerato (Forte) sedan

– Opened Kia Design Center America

– Kia joined ranks of world’s top five automakers (based on 2007 sales)

– Forged strategic partnership with Microsoft to develop new automotive IT products and services

2007

– cee’d received 5-Star NCAP Rating

– Launched cee’d 5-Door, Sporty Wagon in Europe

– Opened new European headquarters and Design Center

– Kia Sorento and Sedona (known as Carnival in some countries) both received top honors in Strategic Vision’s 2007 Total Quality Index™ (TQI)

– Rio earns highest in segment honor in J.D Power & Associates Initial Quality Study for the second year in a row

2006

– Launched New Carens (Rondo) compact MPV
– Held signing ceremony for first US plant (State of Georgia)
– Ranked first in sales growth in the Western European market for three consecutive years       (’03~ ’05, based on ACEA data)
– New Carnival MPV received top safety rating from US government (NHTSA) and IIHS

– Rio named highest ranking sub-compact car in J.D. Power & Associates’ Initial Quality Study

– Commenced production at Slovakia plant

2005

– Launched New Rio sub-compact sedan
– Launched New Carnival (Sedona) MPV
– Launched New Optima (Magentis) mid-size sedan
– Cumulative exports break 5 million mark
– Sportage compact SUV & Opirus (Amanti) premium sedan ranked highest in segment in JD Power customer satisfaction survey (APEAL)
– Opirus (Amanti) premium sedan selected as “Most Delightful Vehicle ” in the US by Strategic Vision

– Selected as Official Automobile Partner of FIFA in conjunction with Hyundai Motor Company

2004

– Launched Picanto minicar

– Launched new Sportage compact SUV

– Launched K-2700 commercial trucks

– Commenced construction on Slovakia plant
– Held signing ceremony for the 2nd Dongfeng Yueda Kia Motors’ plant in China
– Surpassed US$ 7 billion in annual exports

2003

– Launched Opirus (Amanti) premium sedan

– Kia and Hyundai R&D units merged

– Ground broken for new Environment Technology Center

– Carnival production begins in Malaysia

2002

– Launched Sorento SUV

– Launched diesel powered Carens compact MPV

– Cumulative production reaches 10 million units

– Launched upgraded Rio sub-compact sedan

– Sales subsidiaries established in 5 European countries

– Chinese subsidiary Dongfeng Yueda Kia Motors established

2001

– Launched upgraded Carnival (Sedona) MPV

2000

– Launched Pregio commercial van

– Sportage placed 5th and 6th in the Paris-Dakar Rally

– Launched Spectra compact sedan

– Launched Optima (Magentis) mid-size sedan

– Launched Retona Cruiser

– Moved head office to Yangjae-dong in Seoul

1999

– Changed name of Asan Plant to Hwasung Plant

– First among Korean makers in number of cars exported to the U.S. in January and February

1998

– Kia Motors becomes part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group

– Commenced production of Carnival MPV

– Cumulative exports reached 2 million units

1997

– Commenced production of Sephia II compact sedan and Frontier truck
– Sephia compact sedan came in first in the World Rally held in China
– Completed joint venture plant in China
– Commenced production of Shuma compact sedan

1996

– Commenced export of Sephia compact sedan and Credos mid-size sedan to Europe
– Commenced national car project in Indonesia
– Commenced production of the Elan roadster
– Completed construction of Kia Sihwa Technical Institute
– Cumulative production figures reached 5 million

1995

– 30th anniversary of the foundation of Asia Motors Co., Inc.
– Established Kia Information System Co., Ltd.
– Commenced production of Credos mid-size sedan
– Completed the construction of R&D center in Tokyo
– Established Kia-Ford Auto Finance Co. Ltd.
– Commenced production of Pregio commercial van

1994

– 50th anniversary of corporate foundation
– Commenced production of Avella sub-compact car
– Commenced export of the Sephia compact sedan and Sportage compact SUV to the U.S.
– Established Kia Intertrade Co., Ltd.

1993

– Cumulative production figures reached 3 million
– Commenced production of Sportage compact SUV
– Completed construction of proving ground at the Asan Plant

1992

– Commenced production of the Potentia luxury sedan, and Sephia compact sedan, Kia’s first proprietary passenger car
– New headquarters building completed
– Established Kia Japan Co., Ltd.
– Established Kia Motors America

1990

– Changed corporate name to Kia Motors Corporation

– Completed construction of Asan Plant (Hwasung Plant)

1989

– Commenced production of the Capital 4-door sedan
– Kia Economic Research Institute established

1988

– Cumulative production figures reached one million
– Commenced production of 2.5 ton truck (Trade) and 5-ton truck (Rhino)
1987

– Commenced production of the Pride and Concord

1986

– Commenced production of the Besta
– Equity stakes sold to Ford

– Acquired Kia Steel Co., Ltd.

1984

– Kia Central Technological Institute completed
1983

– Equity stakes sold to Mazda and Itochu
– Commenced production of the Ceres agricultural truck
1980

– Commenced production of the Bongo 1-ton truck
1979

– Commenced production of Peugeot 604 and Fiat 132

1978

– Commenced production of diesel engines

1976

– Acquired Asia Motors

– Kia Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. established
– Kia Subcontractors Association established

1975

– Exported Korea first passenger car – the Brisa pickup
1974

– Commenced production of the Brisa, Korea’s first small-size passenger car

1973

– Acquired Kia Precision Works Co., Ltd.
– Sohari factory – Korea’s first fully integrated automobile production line completed
– Commenced production of 2,000cc gasoline engine

1971

– Commenced production of the Titan & Boxer four-wheel cargo truck
– Kia Service Co., Ltd. established

1965

– Became first Korean business to export bikes to the U.S.

1962

– Commenced production of the K-360 three-wheel cargo truck

1961

– Commenced production of Korea’s first motorcycle – the C-100

1957

– Siheung factory completed

1952

– Commenced production of the first Korean-made bicycle

– Changed corporate name to Kia Industry Co., Ltd.

1944

– Corporation founded as Kyungsung Precision Industries