KIA SALES RUNNING 58% ABOVE 2004 LEVELS

• European Kia sales reach almost 180,000 vehicles so far this year - up 58%
• August sales pass 18,000 units mark, a rise of 36% over August 2004

Kia Motors Europe Headquarters, Eschborn, Germany - 2 September 2005

Continuing high demand across Europe for Kia products during August, pushed Kia Motors sales up 36% last month to more than 18,000 vehicles in what is traditionally a ´quiet´ month for new car sales in the peak holiday season. Sales for the first eight months of 2005 reached almost 180,000 (178,006) units - 58% higher than the Kia brand achieved in same period of 2004.

So far this year, Picanto tops Kia sales with a total of 55,160 units delivered, heading the Sorento (27,083 units), Sportage (26,770), Carnival (17,044) and Cerato (17,034) over the eight month period.

"Kia´s monthly sales performance in Europe has once again demonstrated how our modern products now closely match the needs and tastes of European consumers," commented Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President Kia Motors Europe. "Even in the holiday season, our expanding dealer network attracted more new customers to the Kia brand and with supplies of the all-new Rio arriving and the launch of Picanto Diesel we expect to continue our highly successful 2005."

During August, Germany reclaimed the position as ´top market for Kia´ with 3,203 cars delivered, to beat Spain (3,178 sales, up 47%) and Italy (2,112, up 62%).

For the eight months of 2005, year-to-date, Kia´s total sales in the leading European countries were Spain (29,820 units, up 71%), Germany (27,494, up 43%), Italy (26,111, up 61%), the UK (25,179, up 30%), the Netherlands (13,105, up 40%) and France (11,515, up 108%) which achieved the highest growth rate of a major market, thanks to popularity of the diesel-engined Cerato and Sportage.

Kia´s export sales around the world have climbed 29.1% during the first eight months of 2005, to total 543,210 units. Mr Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice-President and COO of Kia Motors Corporation, commented, "Kia Motors continues to be one of the steadiest performers in the global automotive industry, with double-digit sales growth in all our overseas markets during August.

"We are in the midst of the complete regeneration of the Kia product line-up and eagerly anticipate the world premiere of the new D-Segment Magentis model at the Frankfurt Motor Show. We are confident that this new elegantly understated executive sedan will transform Kia´s fortunes in this sector of the market," concluded COO Kim.

- Ends -

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 28 markets in Europe. The European sales target is 300,000 units per year by 2005, thanks to new products and new diesel engines.

About Kia Motors Corporation
Kia Motors Corporation (www.kiamotors.com) - the fastest growing automaker in the world - was founded in 1944 and is Korea´s oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to become one of the world´s premier automotive brands.

Kia´s 16 manufacturing and assembly operations in 12 countries produce more than 1.1 million vehicles a year that are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 155 countries. Kia today has 32,000 employees and annual revenues of US$14 billion.

Kia is the major sponsor of the Australian Tennis Open and an official worldwide sponsor of the Davis Cup. Kia Motors Corporation´s brand slogan - ´The Power to Surprise´ - represents the company´s global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.

Press Contact

Dr Iris Kirschbaum
Tel 0049 6196 5092 132 Email i.kirschbaum@kia-europe.com
Kia Motors Europe GmbH
Hauptstrasse 185, 65760 Eschborn, Germany.
Tel +49 (6196) 509 2132 / Fax +49 (6196) 509 2100