Kia Motors intends to join the Clean Energy Partnership to promote Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles in Germany

• Kia to showcase its excellence in Fuel Cell technologies in Germany
• Expected to further enhance competitiveness in the development of environment-friendly cars

(SEOUL) February 25, 2011 – Kia Motor Corp. has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with members of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) to help promote Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) and showcase the company’s competitiveness in eco-friendly vehicles.

The initial agreement was signed yesterday in Seoul, attended by Dr. Hyun Soon Lee, Vice Chairman and head of Hyundai-Kia R&D; Dr. Klaus Bonhoff, Managing Director of NOW GmbH (National Organization of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology); Patrick Schnell, Chairman of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) and other CEP members.

As part of its global activities to prepare commercialization of fuel cell vehicles Kia intends to join the Clean Energy Partnership in 2011. The parties agreed to negotiate respective terms for participation.

The German Federal Government, together with stakeholders from various industry sectors and academia, set up the National Innovation Programme to support the market preparation of fuel cell technology in Germany. The combined budget for the Programme amounts to Euro 1.4 billion and covers the period 2007-2016.

“With Kia coming on board, the CEP would gain another strong partner from the automotive industry. We believe this can advance the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles,” said Patrick Schnell, Chairman of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP).

“By participating in the Clean Energy Partnership, Kia intends to generate further momentum in finding ways to better fuel cell technology and performance,” said Vice Chairman Dr. Lee.

Last January, the Kia Motors signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with four Northern European countries to operate a test fleet of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) in the European market.

Kia Motors Corporation (www.kia.com) -- a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart -- 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. Over 2.1 million vehicles a year are produced in 13 manufacturing and assembly operations in eight countries which are then sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 172 countries. Kia today has over 44,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues of over US$20 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Open and an official automotive partner of FIFA -- the governing body of the FIFA World 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.

Kia Motors Media Contact:

Michael Choo
General Manager
Overseas Communication
Tel: +82-2-3464-5663
E-mail: mjc@kia.co.kr