Kia
Revised Romanization	Gia
McCune-Reischauer	Kia
Hangul	기아
Hanja	起亞

Kia Motors Corp is a South Korean automobile manufacturer.

History

Kia was founded in 1944, and later produced Mazda models under licence, including the Pride (based on the 121) and Avella, which were sold in North America and Australasia as the Ford Festiva and Ford Aspire. The name "Kia" (起亞) roughly translates as "Rising from Asia" in Chinese characters.

In 1993, it began operating in the United States, which first began sales in California. The dealers in 1994 sold the Sephia , then a few years later the United States sales line expanded with the addition of the Sportage. Kia cars were generally perceived as being cheap, but of poor build quality, but improving in recent years. Ten-year powertrain warranties have been aggressively promoted in Kia advertising. (Also see Hyundai)

Its troubles in 1997 helped to push South Korea into the Asian financial crisis, and it was acquired in 1998 by the Hyundai Motor Company.

Affiliations and subsidiaries

Kia is one of the companies of the Hyundai Motor Group and has two subsidiaries:

• Kia Motors America
• Asia Motors, Ltd

Models

• Amanti
• Avella
• Brisa
• Capital
• Carens
• Concord
• Clarus
• Elan/Vigato/Kia Roadster
• Enterprise
• Magentis
• Mentor
• Morning
• Optima
• Picanto
• Potentia
• Pride
• Rio
• Rio Cinco
• Sedona
• Sephia
• Shuma
• Sorento
• Spectra
• Sportage

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• List of Korean car makers

External link

• Company website
• History of Kia Motors
• Kia Motors Corporation timeline