GLOBAL SALES & EXPORTS RISE OVER NINE MONTHS

• Sales volumes up 15.4% with 93,916 unit rise over 2003
• Strong exports continue with 41.7% leap year-on-year
• Revenues increase 19.7% on strength of exports

Kia Motors Europe Headquarters, Eschborn, Germany - 28 October 2004

Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) announced today that its vehicle sales rose by 15.4% year-on-year to 703,175 units during the first nine months of 2004, thanks to brisk exports to Europe and North America, and the hugely successful launch of the new compact Sportage SUV on the domestic Korean market.

Exports jumped 41.7% compared to last year, reaching 516,604 units due mainly to strong sales of the Kia Magentis/Optima passenger car, Sorento SUV and the popular new models: the C-Segment Cerato and colourful Picanto (A-Segment) small car.

In Europe, where Kia is currently the fastest growing automotive brand, export volume increased to 176,896 units, representing a 63.8% rise. Exports to North America increased by 53,371 units, showing a 33.4% gain over the same period of last year. Meanwhile, shipments to China also recorded a noticeable increase, up by 19.5%.

Revenues increased by 19.7% on the strength of exports, which currently have an average selling price of US$11,700 per vehicle.

"We are pleased with Kia´s third quarter results, which were achieved with strong sales of the Optima, Sorento and the new 2004 models - the Cerato and Picanto," commented Mr Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Kia Motors. "This success is due to our continued pursuit of providing the world with new exciting high-quality cars at an unbeatable value. We will continue to pave the way for future success with the imminent worldwide introduction of the new Sportage and with the start of construction of our new European plant in Slovakia."

Editors Notes

Kia Motors Europe
Kia Motors Europe is the European sales, marketing, and service arm of Kia Motors Corporation. With its headquarters in Eschborn, Germany, it covers 20 markets in Europe. The European sales target is 300,000 units per year by 2005, thanks to new European products and new diesel engines.

About Kia Motors Corporation
Kia Motors Corporation (www.kiamotors.com), which celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2004, is among the world´s fastest growing automobile companies. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to be a ´Top 5´ global automaker by 2010. Kia´s 15 manufacturing and assembly operations in 12 countries make more than one million vehicles each year. These vehicles are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 190 countries.

Founded in 1944, Kia Motors Corporation is Korea´s oldest manufacturer of automobiles. Kia today has 30,000 employees and annual revenues of US$ 12 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Tennis Open and the international sponsor of the Davis Cup.

Press Contact:

Kia Motors Europe GmbH
Hauptstrasse 185, 65760 Eschborn, Germany.
Tel.: +49 (6196) 509 2132 / Fax.: +49 (6196) 509 2100