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Kia: Second Largest Automobile Manufacturer in South Korea
Explore Kia's wide range of cars from sedans to hatchback, hybrid to SUVs
Kia
Kia is undoubtedly one of the most popular automotive brands in the world, and it’s one of the oldest too. Let’s look at Kia’s history and some of its popular cars.
Kia is the oldest Korean automotive manufacturer in the world. It’s also the second-largest one in terms of production, after the Hyundai Motor Company. By 2013 the company had a revenue of almost $47 billion per year, and currently has more than 33,000 employees worldwide. The company sells automobiles, including luxury cars and commercial vehicles.
The company says that the name Kia comes from Korean characters Ki and A. It roughly translates to ‘coming out of the east’ when put together. The company was founded in the 1940s and started out as a manufacturer of bicycle parts and steel tubing.
Kia Models
A Brief History
Kia is part of the Hyundai Motor Company, which is part of the Hyundai Motor Group. After securing a $1 billion investment in 2006, Kia recorded an increase in sales every year since then. The company has expanded its operations and currently has its Canadian headquarters in Ontario, along with offices in Vancouver and a state-of-the-art facility in Montreal.
Popular Vehicle Models
The company has a range of popular vehicles, including the Sportage, which has a 2 L engine and the option between a four or a five-speed transmission. Another popular model is the Picanto, which is a city car based on the platform of the Hyundai Getz. In 2011 the Picanto won the product design award and also the Red Dot award in 2012.
The Sorento is another great model in the Kia lineup and offers a choice of three GDI engines, including a 3.3 L V6 version that provides a 2,260 kg towing capacity. It has seating available for seven people, with directionally adaptive Xenon headlights and a push-button start.
Kia's slogan is 'The Power to Surprise' and the company strives to continually live up to its promise. With a global network of more than 40,000 employees and a series of design centers and manufacturing plants, Kia has its goals set on the future. The company is also committed to environmental sustainability and has an impressive lineup of vehicles to support this.
It is no wonder that today, Kia is one of the fastest growing brands in Canada. Their models are redefining expectations in the affordable class of sedans, compacts and SUV’s. With more innovative designs and features on the horizon, such as their hybrid lineup, Kia continues it’s tradition of building reliable vehicles at an affordable price. If that is not enough, they stand by their products with a 5-year/100,000km bumper to bumper warranty. Surely, Kia is a brand that will continue to defy expectations for years to come.