Kia Vehicles

Overview

    Kia Motors was founded in 1944, in what soon became South Korea. After the Korean War, the company turned its attention to cars, becoming the Republic of Korea's first automaker. Exactly 50 years after its inception, Kia began selling the compact Sephia as its first product in the United States, followed soon after by the small, cute, and cheap Sportage. Since then, the company gradually expanded its lineup to include midsize and large cars, along with a minivan and several SUVs. However, the company is not a full-line automaker in the States, particularly since it offers no pickup trucks in its range. During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Kia went bankrupt. A majority stake was acquired by Hyundai, which led to platform-sharing between some Kia and Hyundai vehicles. Hyundai's stake in Kia has since fallen, and is currently less than 40 percent. Kia Motors is a subsidiary of the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, an industrial conglomerate (a jaebeol) that also controls numerous parts suppliers, along with companies in a range of other industries. Kia's corporate headquarters are in Seoul, Seoul National Capital Area, Republic of Korea. Kia U.S.-spec models are constructed at the company's factories in Korea and at a US assembly plant in West Point, Georgia.

CARS

MINIVANS

SPORT-UTILITY VEHICLES