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History

History Highlights

1944 • Corporate Foundation (Kyongseong Precision)
1952 • Commenced production of the first Korean-made bicycle, the Samchonriho
• Changed the corporate name to Kia Industry Co., Ltd.
1957 • Siheung Factory was completed.
1962 • Commenced production of the K-360 three-wheel cargo truck
1973 • Took over Kia Precision Works Co. Ltd.l Sohari Factory was completed
• Commenced production of a 2,000cc gasoline engine
1974 • Commenced production of the Brisa, Korea's first small-size passenger car
1978 • Commenced production of diesel engines
1979 • Commenced production of Pugeot 604 and Fiat 132
1982 • Awarded the Grand Prize for Invention for its retrogression control device
1987 • Commenced production of the Pride and Concorde
1988 • Cumulative production figures reached one million
• Commenced production of a 2.5 ton truck and a 5-ton truck
1990 • Changed its corporate name to Kia Motors Corporationl Completed construction of Asan Plant (Hwasung Plant)
1991 • Kia´s Sephia and Sportage were displayed at the 29th Tokyo Motor Show.
1992 • Commenced production of the Potentia luxury sedan, and Sephia, Kia´s first proprietary passenger car
• New Headquarters building was completed
• Established Kia Japan l Established Kia Motors America
1993 • Cumulative production figures reached 3 million
• Commenced production of the Sportage SUV
• Completed construction of a proving ground at the Asan Plant
1994 • 50th Anniversary of corporate foundationl Changed the Group´s corporate identity
• Commenced production of Avella.
• Construction of Automation Factory was completed.
• Commenced export of the Sephia and Sportage to the U.S.
1995 • 30th anniversary of foundation of Asia Motors Co., Inc.
• Established Kia Information System Co., Ltd.
• Commenced production of the Credos mid-size sedan
• Completed the construction of an R&D center in Tokyo
• Established Kia-Ford Auto Finance Co. Ltd.
• Commenced production of the Pregio van
1996 • Commenced export of the Sephia and Credos to Europe
• Commenced the national car project in Indonesia
• Commenced production of the Elan sportster
• Cumulative production figures reached 5 million
1997 • Commenced production of the Enterprise luxury sedan
• Commenced production of the Sephia II and the Bongo Frontier
• Started construction of Kia plant in Indonesia
• Completed the joint venture plant in China
• Commenced production of the Shuma compact sedan
1998 • Commenced production of the Carnival MPV, the Credos II mid-size sedan, 1-ton Frontier Tilting Cab, and multi-purpose 7-passenger type wagon Parktown.
• Cumulative export figures reached 2 million unitsl Hyundai Motor takes over Kia Motors
1999 • Commenced selling 1999-type Carnival, Credos II 2.0V 6 deluxe sedan
• Changed the name of the Asan Plant to the Hwasung Plant.
• Kia won the first place among Korean automakers in the number of cars exported to the U.S. in January and February.
• Commenced selling the 1999-type Potentia
2000 • Commenced production of the Pregio 15-seater and Millennium Carnivall Started sales of Retona Cruiser
• Participated in the 70th Geneva Motor Show
• Commenced production of the 2000-type Vistol Adopted the brand identity in all cars
• Commenced production of Spectra, compact sedan and the Optima, mid-size sedan
• Moved head office to Yangjae-dong in Seoul
• Commenced production of Millennium Rio and Carens 2.0 Di LPG
2001 • Participated in 2001 Chicago Motor Show
• Commenced selling Carnival II.
• New Rio was introduced in the market
• Kia was awarded the Korea Quality Grand Prize (the 27th)
• Participated in 2001 Chicago Motor Show
• Participated in Shanghai Motor Show
• President Kim Dae-jung paid a visit to the Sohari Plant
• Kia advanced into the Chinese market in full force
2002 • 2002.Carnival Common Rail marketed
• Sorento luxury SUV marketedl Kia Q Service enters full operation
• Diesel-powered Carens II marketed
• Cumulative production reaches 10 million units
• First Skill World Cup Competition held
• Regal mid-size sedan marketed
• Company awarded 2002 Value Management Award
• Upgraded compact sedan Rio SF marketed
• Subsidiary companies established in 5 European countries
• Company awarded Grand Prize in Korea Service Quality Award
• Sorento begins exports to overseas market
2003
• Opirus, luxury sedan is launched
• Cerato, compact sedan is launched
• Four millionth unit exported
• Five Billion Export Tower Award received
• Average export price reaches US$10,000
• Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group consolidates R&D centers
2004 • Groundbreaking for Slovakian Plant
• Picanto, mini-car is launched
• Second China Plant announced
• Broke March CBU exports record
• Second Kia Skill World Cup held
• 60th Anniversary of corporate foundation

1944

  • Kia Motors Corporation of Seoul, South Korea, is founded as a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycle parts


    • 1951

  • Company is officially named ‘Kia Industries’
  • Production of Korea’s first bicycle begins


    • 1957

  • Production of Korea’s first motor scooter, the C-100, begins
  • Shihung factory is established


    • 1961

  • Production of Korea’s first motorcycle, the C-180, begins


    • 1962

  • Production of Korea’s first truck, the K-360, begins


    • 1971

  • The Titan, a 4-wheel cargo truck, is produced


    • 1972

  • Kia Service Co Ltd is established


    • 1973

  • The Sohari plant, Korea’s first fully integrated automobile production facility, opens
  • Production of Korea’s first internal combustion gasoline engine begins
  • The Brisa B-1000 pick-up is produced


    • 1974

  • Kia begins manufacturing the Peugeot 604 sedan
  • Kia makes the Fiat 132 sedan


    • 1981

  • The Bongo truck is produced


    • 1984

  • Kia Research and Development Centre is established


    • 1990

  • Changed corporate name to Kia Motors Corporation
  • Kia Pride hatchback becomes the first Kia vehicle sold in European markets


    • 1991

  • Kia Motors Corporation announces plans to enter the US market and sell the Sportage SUV


    • AWARDS
    Kia Motors Corporation becomes the first automaker to receive Korea’s ‘Total Quality Control’ (TQC) Grand Prize at the 17th National Quality Control and Standardisation Contest. Equivalent to Japan’s Deming Prize and the USA’s Malcolm Baldridge Award, the Korean honour is the most prestigious of its kind in the country


    1993

  • France, Germany and the UK become the first European export markets for Kia in Europe
  • Cumulative production figures reach 3 million vehicles


    • 1996

  • Cumulative production figures reach 5 million vehicles


    • 1998

  • Kia Motors becomes part of the Hyundai Group
  • Cumulative exports reach 2 million units


    • 2000

  • Kia Sportage cars claim 5th and 6th place finishes on Paris-Dakar Rally
  • Kia Motors becomes part of the newly-formed Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group


    • 2002

  • European holding company Kia Motors Europe is established in Germany
  • Cumulative vehicle production passes the 10 million mark
  • Kia-owned sales subsidiaries established in five European countries
  • New Kia Sorento SUV introduced to European markets


    • 2003

  • Kia Motor Corporation signs long-term sponsorship of Australian Open tennis tournament
  • Opens an all-new European R&D Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany


    • 2004

  • Commences construction of ‘first-ever’ manufacturing plant in Europe, at Zilina in Slovakia with an investment of €1.1 billion for a 300,000 units annual output capacity
  • Sales in Europe account for more than 35% of total Kia exports
  • New Kia Sportage compact SUV introduced
  • Kia-owned sales subsidiaries established in eight countries – Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Slovakia


    • 2005

  • Picanto for Italian customer takes Kia’s cumulative exports past the 5 millionth mark
  • Selected as an ‘Official Partner’ of FIFA, in conjunction with Hyundai


    • 2006

  • Kia Motors Europe HQ moves from Bremen to Eschborn, near Frankfurt
  • World premiere of all-new Kia cee’d C-segment hatchback at Paris Motor Show
  • Production of the all-new Kia cee’d, designed and built in Europe, begins at Zilina
  • All-new Kia Carens MPV introduced with five-seater and seven-seater versions
  • Upgraded version of Kia Sorento SUV introduced with 170 ps diesel engine
  • Redesigned Kia Carnival large MPV launched with new 2.9-litre diesel engine
  • Kia takes-over direct control of 12 European subsidiaries, covering 70% of sales


    • 2007

  • cee’d family expands with launch of five-door wagon model
  • Peter Schreyer appointed as Chief Design Officer, Kia Motors Corporation
  • 1,500 VIPs attend ‘Grand Opening Ceremony’ at Kia’s Zilina manufacturing plant
  • Kia cee’d hatchback becomes first Kia to achieve a 5-Star Euro NCAP safety rating
  • Opening of new Kia Motors Europe headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany
  • Opening of independent Kia Design Centre within new European HQ building
  • cee’d family expands further with launch of three-door pro_cee’d sporty hatch


    • AWARDS
    Kia cee’d selected for the ‘Car of the Year 2008’ shortlist of seven candidates


    2008

  • Manufacturing of second-generation Kia Sportage compact SUV begins at Zilina


    • 2009

  • Kia establishes new sales subsidiary in Netherlands
  • World premiere of Kia Venga MPV at Geneva Motor Show
  • World premiere of all-new Kia Sorento mid-size SUV at Frankfurt Motor Show
  • ‘New look’ upgraded Kia cee’d hatchback, wagon and coupe models make world premiere at Frankfurt Motor Show
  • Kia Soul is the second Kia to earn a 5-Star Euro NCAP safety rating
  • Kia Sorento becomes third Kia to achieve a 5-Star Euro NCAP safety rating


    • AWARDS
    Kia Soul wins ‘honourable mention’ in the internationally renowned red dot design award Kia Venga wins prestigious international iF product design award


    2010

  • Exclusive 7-Year Kia Warranty introduced for all Kia cars sold in Europe
  • World premiere of all-new Kia Sportage compact SUV at Geneva Motor Show
  • World premiere of all-new Kia Optima sedan at New York Motor Show (scheduled to go on sale in Europe in 2011)
  • Sales in 1st Quarter total 68,040 units, up 29% over same period of 2009


    • AWARDS
    Kia Venga B-segment MPV wins the internationally renowned red dot design award

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