In 1944, Kyungsung Precision Industry was founded in Seoul, specializing in the production of bicycle parts. After 8 years, the company assembles its first bicycle and is renamed KIA Industry Company. In 1961, KIA released its first motorcycle, and some time later the K360 three-wheeled truck rolled off the assembly line.

Dynamic development of the company

As the company’s production gradually expanded, it was renamed KIA Corporation in 1971. A little later, KIA absorbed Asia Motors, after which mass production of the first full-fledged four-wheeled truck, called Titan, began. The model gained unprecedented popularity, so for a long time all KIA trucks bore this proud name. Among other things, in 1971 the corporation managed to sign a lucrative cooperation agreement with the Mazda concern.

  • In 1972, the corporation received a license for the production and production of cars and introduced its first gasoline engine. Further, together with the Mazda concern, in 1974, KIA released the Brisa model – it was the first South Korean car sold for export.
  • The end of the seventies was marked for the concern by the release of new cars, as well as the production of some models under license from the FIAT and Peugeout brands.
  • The 80s passed for the company in a deep crisis. However, successful cooperation with Mazda, as well as a reorientation towards economical cars, allows KIA to survive difficult times and even release its millionth car in 1988.
  • In 1990, the company was renamed again, this time to KIA Motors Corporation. Thanks to worldwide recognition, it manages to open representative offices in the USA and Japan, as well as enter the European market, almost immediately taking 17th place there in the list of leading automakers.
  • In 1991, the Sportage SUV debuts in Tokyo, which in June 1996 successfully starts in the East-West rally. At the same exhibition, the Serphia model was also presented, which was based on the Mazda 323 platform. In 1995, the company released the Clarus model and introduced its first sports car, the Elan. The release of a sports car significantly raised the status of the brand, but in the late 90s, KIA suffered another blow caused by the financial crisis that broke out in Asia. As a result, the concern had to become part of Hyundai Motors, which was reorganized in 2000 into the Hyundai Automotive Group.

New developments of the concern

At the beginning of the new millennium, KIA significantly updated its model range, releasing cars such as Rio, Magentis and Visto. The main bet was made on the Magentis sedan, which was presented in 2001 in Paris. The new car combined the perfect balance of price and quality. In turn, the Rio model actually repeated the Hyundai Accent.
In 2002, the company released the Spactra sedan, which replaced the discontinued Sephia. Then in 2003, the small-sized Picanto hatchback was introduced, designed to firmly occupy the urban compact car segment.
In 2004, the Cerato model appeared, which was improved over time and presented with new characteristics in 2008. By the way, this model became the first car of the company equipped with a diesel engine. Also in 2008, the production Soul car was introduced, which was rightfully called the most advanced development of the brand. The model has an original exterior and high safety indicators, confirmed by numerous crash tests.

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