Kia Motors to launch all-new Carens MPV

• Seven-seater MPV to make its world premiere at Madrid Motor Show

Kia Motors Europe Headquarters, Eschborn, Germany - 31 March 2006

Kia Motors Corporation today issued two ´preview sketches´ of its exciting all-new Carens compact MPV (to be named ´Rondo´ in North America), and confirmed that this model will make its world premiere at the forthcoming Salon International del Automovil de Madrid. The Carens will be revealed to the world for the first time at the bi-annual Spanish motor show, held in the capital´s Parque Ferial Juan Carlos 1 exhibition complex from May 25.

Longer, wider and taller than the model it replaces, the all-new Kia Carens will be available with seven seats for the first time in Europe. The rear seats fold down flat into the boot floor when not required.

Underlining the importance of the European marketplace to Kia, the Carens launch will be the sixth new model -- following the Picanto, Rio, Sportage, Carnival and Magentis -- to ma-ke its debut at a European motor show. Full details of the all-new Carens will be announced at Kia´s motor show press conference at 13:00 hrs (time to be confirmed) on Thursday, May 25.

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 29 markets in Europe.

About Kia Motors Corporation
Kia Motors Corporation (www.kiamotors.com) 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 von Kirschbaum
Tel 0049 6196 5092 132 Email i.kirschbaum@kia-europe.com

Kia Motors Europe GmbH
Hauptstrasse 185, 65760 Eschborn, Germany.
Tel 0049 6196 5092 132 / Fax 0049 6196 5092 100