Industry Analysis: Kia Motors

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History In 1944, Kia Motors Corporation of Seoul, Korea, was founded as a manufacturer of steel and bicycle parts (Kia.com). During the early1950’s, the company changed its name officially to Kia Industries and began production of Korea’s first bicycle (Kia.com). In 1957 Kia began producing Korean’s first motor scooter, the C-100 (Kia.com). Korea’s first truck, the K-130 was introduced in 1962 (Kia.com). In 1971, the Titan, a 4-wheel cargo truck was produced (Kia.com). In 1972, Kia established the Kia Service Co. Ltd (Kia.com). Several other milestones happened during the late 70’s such as Korea’s first full integrated automobile facility opened, Korea’s first internal combustion engine is produced, Kia began producing a gasoline engine and continued to introduce new vehicles (Kia.com). In 1984, the Kia Research and Development Center was established (Kia.com). Kia name changed once again in 1990, to what we now know as Kia Motors, Inc (Kia.com). A major event happened in Kia’s life as a company in the 1990’s; Kia entered the United States market (Kia.com). Three years later, in 1993 Kia opened a parts distribution center in California and signed the first twenty (20) dealers to sells vehicles in the United States (Kia.com). Kia grew quickly and two years later, in 1995 Kia had one hundred (100) dealers and was located in twenty (20) U.S. states (Kia.com). In 1999 Hyundai Business Group purchased Kia Motors Corporation (Kia.com). With this purchase, Kia Motors Corporation (Korea) began making a profit again as one of the largest businesses that became a success story (Kia.com). In 2000, Kia continues to sell a wide range of vehicles. They target a wide range of needs by offering less expensive economic ... ... middle of paper ... ...st.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=121885 Gritzinger, B. (2009). Crossover for the common man. AutoWeek, 59(21), 27. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.lib.ottawa.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ulh&AN=45132206&site=ehost-live Hammonds, D. (2010, January 15). Detroit auto show proves which carmakers will be the strongest in the near future. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA), Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.lib.ottawa.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nfh&AN=2W63128133447&site=ehost-live. Nielsen.com. (2010, March 31). Kia Rolls Home With Nielsen’s Top Auto Ad Award. Retrieved from http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/consumer/kia-rolls-home-with-nielsen%E2%80%99s-top-auto-ad-award/ Uefa.com (2010, March 1). Hyundai-Kia official sponsor of ERUO 2012, 2016. Retrieved from http://www.uefa.com/uefa/events/marketing/news/newsid=1456922.html

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