Kia was founded in May 1944 as Kyungsung Precision Industry, initially manufacturing steel tubing and bicycle parts. In 1951, the company produced South Korea’s first domestic bicycle, the Samchuly. The name changed to Kia Industries in 1952, and the company began producing Honda-licensed motorcycles in 1957 and Mazda-licensed trucks in 1962, followed by cars in 1974. Kia opened its first integrated automotive assembly plant, the Sohari Plant, in 1973.
Kia built the Brisa range of cars, based on Mazda designs, until 1981. Industry consolidation enforced by Chun Doo-hwan led Kia to focus on light trucks, with passenger car production halted between 1984 and 1985. Prior to this, Kia had assembled the Fiat 132 and Peugeot 604 under license, contingent on exporting five cars for every imported vehicle. Kia resumed automobile production in 1986 in partnership with Ford, producing Mazda-derived vehicles for both domestic and export markets. These included the Kia Pride, based on the Mazda 121, and the Avella, sold as the Ford Festiva and Ford Aspire in North America and Australasia. Kia Industries was renamed Kia Motors Corporation in 1990.
In 1992, Kia Motors America was incorporated. Sales began in 1993 with four dealerships in Portland, Oregon, expanding to over one hundred dealerships across thirty states by 1995, selling a record 24,740 automobiles. The Sephia was introduced to the U.S. market during this period, followed by the Sportage. Kia declared bankruptcy in 1997 during the Asian financial crisis, and in 1998 reached an agreement with Hyundai Motor Company, which acquired 51% of the company, outbidding Ford Motor Company. Since 2005, Kia has focused on the European market, identifying design as a key area for growth. Peter Schreyer was hired as chief design officer in 2006, creating the ‘Tiger Nose’ corporate grille. Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia opened in February 2010, representing a US$1 billion investment.
In late 2012, Kia admitted to inflating its United States Environmental Protection Agency mileage claims, requiring adjustments to fuel economy figures and compensation to buyers. A more recent controversy arose in 2022 with the “Kia Challenge” on TikTok, involving the theft of certain Kia and Hyundai models manufactured between 2010 and 2021 due to a lack of immobilizers. This resulted in at least 14 crashes and eight deaths, and led to a proposed $200 million settlement, later rejected by a federal judge.
Kia has been involved in the production of military vehicles since 1976, designated as the sole maker of military vehicles by the South Korean Government. Currently, Kia is designing the KM450, a Kaiser Jeep M715-type vehicle for the South Korean Army on license from the U.S. Government.
Kia sponsors numerous sports teams, events, and athletes. These include the League of Legends European Championship, the Australian Open, and athletes such as LeBron James and Rafael Nadal. Kia also sponsors venues like the Kia Arena and the Kia Forum.
Kia’s current lineup includes the Tasman pickup truck, which debuted in Saudi Arabia in October 2024.
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