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Your Joyful Moment

The origin of Wheeled Vehicles in Korea
1940–1960

The origin of Wheeled
Vehicles in Korea

  • Founded around that time under the name of Kyungsung Precision Industry, Kia was the first in Korea to make bicycles and later build motorcycles requiring no manual power to move. This marked the start of the dream of being Korea's first maker of four-wheeled automobiles.

  • 1944

    Kyungsung Precision Industry, the origin of Kia, is founded.

  • The Samchully, Korea's first bicycle, is unveiled
    1952

    The Samchully, Korea's first bicycle, is unveiled.

  • The company is renamed Kia Industries
    1952

    The company is renamed Kia Industries.

Kia, the Pioneer of Korea's Automobile Industry
1960–1973

Kia, the Pioneer of Korea's Automobile Industry

  • Kia Motors launched the Kia Honda C-100 in 1961 after years of sustained efforts to develop a two-wheeled and a three-wheeled vehicle. Subsequently, it secured the capability to produce an original three-wheeled vehicle for the first time in Korea's automotive industry when it launched the Kia-Mazda K-360 in 1962.

    The huge popularity of the K-360 provided us with the strength to start the second round of development of three-wheeled vehicles in 1967, successfully launching the Kia-Mazda T-2000 and T-600 later on.

  • The T-600 starts production
    1969

    The T-600 starts production.

  • The Sohari Plant opens
    1973

    The Sohari Plant opens.

  • The Brisa pickup starts production
    1973

    The Brisa pickup starts production.

A Giant Leap towards Becoming a Global Automaker
1974–1997

A Giant Leap towards Becoming a Global Automaker

  • Kia has offered many great models that gained huge popularity among local and international consumers, including the Brisa, the first originally developed passenger car in Korea dubbed the "People's Car"; the Pride, the first Korean car ever to reach production of 1 million units; and the Sportage, the world first passenger car-type SUV to complete the famed Paris-Dakar Rally.

  • The passenger car Brisa is unveiled
    1974

    The passenger car Brisa is unveiled.

  • The Pride starts production
    1986

    The Pride starts production.

  • The Pride sets foot on U.S. soil
    1987

    The Pride sets foot on U.S. soil.

  • The midsize Concord sedan starts production
    1987

    The midsize Concord sedan starts production.

  • The Sephia, Kia's first independently developed passenger car
    1992

    The Sephia, Kia's first independently developed passenger car, starts production.

  • Completed construction of a proving ground at the Asan Plant
    1993

    Completed construction of a proving ground at the Asan Plant

  • The Sportage completes the 1993 Paris-Dakar Rally
    1993

    The Sportage completes the 1993 Paris-Dakar Rally.

  • The Elan, Korea's first authentic sport car
    1996

    The Elan, Korea's first authentic sport car, is launched.

Kia Global Brand
1998–2010

Challenging Ourselves to Be
a Better Global Brand

  • The joining of Peter Schreyer - one of the world's top 3 automotive designers - as the chief design officer of Kia marked the start of our drive to establish a market-leading design identity.

    Meanwhile, our continued investment in R&D has enabled us to develop a full-lineup of vehicles across all segments as well as propelled Kia to the 69th position on Interbrand's annual list of 100 Best Global Brands.

  • Hyundai and Kia merged
    1998

    Hyundai and Kia merged.Kia becomes a part of the world’s fifth-biggest car maker, the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group.

  • The Optima is launched
    2000

    The Optima is launched.

  • Kia's globally competitive automotive R&D institute (Namyang R&D Center) opens
    2003

    Kia's globally competitive automotive R&D institute (Namyang R&D Center) opens.

  • Kia's cumulative exports exceed 5 million units
    2005

    Kia's cumulative exports exceed 5 million units.

  • The cee'd, Kia's strategic model for Europe
    2006

    The cee'd, Kia's strategic model for Europe, is unveiled at Paris Motor Show.

  • The Soul becomes Korea's first car to receive a red dot Design Award
    2009

    The Soul becomes Korea's first car to receive a red dot Design Award.

A different Beat 360
2010–Now

  • Since its foundation in 1944, Kia steadily grown into a truly global player.

  • Kia's accumulated overseas sales exceed 50 million units
    2013

    Kia's accumulated overseas sales exceed 50 million units.

  • The Soul EV becomes the first in the industry to be given Underwriters Laboratory's environmental validation
    2014

    The Soul EV becomes the first in the industry to be given Underwriters Laboratory's environmental validation.

  • Kia GT4 Stinger concept and Soul earn International Design Excellence Awards
    2014

    Kia GT4 Stinger concept and Soul earn International Design Excellence Awards

  • Kia officially opens Mexico production facility
    2016

    Kia officially opens Mexico production facility

  • Kia's first brand experience space BEAT 360 opens in Korea
    2017

    Kia's first brand experience space BEAT 360 opens in Korea

  • Kia presents vision for future mobility at CES 2018
    2018

    Kia presents vision for future mobility at CES 2018

  • Three trophies for Kia at the 2018 iF design Awards
    2018

    Three trophies for Kia at the 2018 iF design Awards

  • Kia motors is the highest ranked mass market brand
    2018

    Kia motors is the highest ranked mass market brand in J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study for the fourth consecutive year

  • Kia 2019 Red Dot Awards
    2019

    2019 Red Dot Awards: another triple triumph for Kia design

  • Kia new all-electric concept car revealed
    2019

    Imagine by Kia: a new all-electric concept car revealed