KIA Motors is South Korea’s oldest car manufacturer and the second largest automobile manufacturer in Asia today. Along with sister company, Hyundai, KIA Motors is reported as being the fifth (5th) largest car manufacturer in the world, leading vehicle innovation and motoring satisfaction onto international showroom floors.
The name KIA is derived from the Sino-Korean words “ki”, to come out and “a”, which stands for Asia, jointly expressing “rising out of Asia”, a motoring name well recognised throughout Asia, America, Europe and Southern Africa. As part of the Hyundai-KIA Automotive Group, KIA Motors strives to become one of the world’s best and largest vehicle manufacturers, driving spirited competition in the motoring arena.
KIA Motors expanse reaches across eight (8) countries, which house thirteen (13) KIA vehicle manufacturing plants, with over forty thousand (40 000) employees contributing to the assembly, manufacturing, sales and marketing of KIA vehicles. Each of these motoring houses are responsible for the sales of 1.4 million KIA vehicles per annum throughout 172 countries worldwide and each of these manufacturing plants guarantee the KIA quality that is responsible for the growth that this automotive brand has encountered.
KIA Automobile Manufacturers are further steered by six (6) Research and Development centres based in Germany, Japan and the USA ensuring that style, design and leading automotive technologies are incorporated into the assembly of vehicle models. Coupled with automotive technological advancements the KIA Motors global design operation is now under design directorship of Peter Schreyer. Schreyer joins KIA Motors after having achieved respect and groundbreaking success with his hand in the design of the original Audi TT, VW Beetle, VW Golf V, Audi A4 and Audi A6. Peter Schreyer has also had a weighted influence in the design of the Audi R8, Lamborghini Murcielago and Lamborghini Gallardo and notably offering much anticipation to the production of upcoming KIA vehicle designs and styling. Schreyer is now the mastermind behind KIA’s model range design line up and vehicle style activities at the Namyang Design Centre in Korea as well as other KIA design centres in LA, Frankfurt and Tokyo.
KIA South Africa offers confidence and assurance to South African customers, by presenting unsurpassed vehicle warranties on KIA models that the South African motorists have never been offered before. Further proof of the quality assurance that KIA offers, in 2006 the KIA Rio received the highest ranking for automotive quality in its competing category range by J.D Power and Associates. J.D. Power and Associates have further compiled a South African Initial Quality Study (IQS) and ranked KIA Motors in 5th place, ahead of rivals like Chevrolet, Toyota, Mazda, Peugeot, Ford, Opel, Nissan and Volkswagen communicating quality and vehicle assurance that motorists expect to find when making a vehicle purchase.
The ambitions of KIA Motors are sizable but within reach of achieving. We at KIA Menlyn strive to achieve the same professional success with our service and dedication to each of our customers.
A Global View of KIA Motors:
International Sponsorships
• KIA Motors Seats a major Sponsorship in the Australian Tennis Open
• KIA is the Official Automotive partner of FIFA as well as the governing body of the FIFA World Cup
• Sponsorship to FIFA Confederations CUP 2009
• 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
• EUROTOP partner to UEFA Euro 2008
International Accolades
• Five-Star Rating for Sedona by US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
• Sorento tops J.D. Power Survey.
• KIA Sorento voted Best Car by Motor Presse Bohemia.
• KIA Picanto judged Most Economical Car by ADAC.
• Autobild names Picanto ‘Best City Car’.
• Picanto selected as Best City Cruiser’ by Top Gear Magazine.
• Rio selected as Best Car in Autobest.
• The 2006 and 2007 Rio ranked highest for initial quality according to the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study.
• KIA Carens receives EURO NCAP 4-star safety rating and NHTSA 5-star safety rating.
• KIA Sorento and Sedona top Strategic Vision’s 2007 Total Quality Index™.
• KIA Motors voted most improved brand overall in Strategic Vision’s 2007 Total Quality Index™.
Accolades
• KIA Picanto named Best Budget Car under R80 000 two years in a row. Car Magazine, Car Top 12 Buys 2006
• KIA Rio selected as Car of the Year finalist 2006
• KIA Sportage voted Runner-up, Best Compact Car. Car Magazine, Car Top 12 Buys 2006