In a little over 20 years, Kia Motors turned from a relatively unknown underdog car manufacturer into a global market leader. Kia vehicles are extremely popular all over the world, and their vast lineup includes everything from compact hatchbacks and SUVs to minivans and performance sedans.
Kia owners, both stateside and overseas, praise their cars for the affordability, outstanding quality, and simplicity. That last bit is not to say that Kia cars are way too basic and unexciting - in recent years, their tech and features grew to match those of their competitors. Some enthusiasts say that Kia today is what the Japanese car makers were in the 1990s and early 2000s - a manufacturer of affordable, reliable and quality cars for the people.
Of course, Kia might not be like Ferrari or Porsche in terms of its heritage, status, and the "cool factor." Nevertheless, there is still plenty of interesting, little-known gems in Kia's history. In this article, we've compiled a few little known facts about Kia Motors that might just change your opinion on the humble, yet determined Korean manufacturer.
15 It Was Founded In 1944 As A Bicycle Manufacturer
Yes, that's right: just like many other car manufacturers, Kia started in a business that had little to do with cars. In 1944, Kyungsung Precision Industry - the company that would eventually become Kia Motors - was founded at a manufacturer of bicycle parts and steel tubes.
In 1951, they achieved an important milestone by making the first Korean bicycle under the name of Samchully.
14 The Name Translates As "Rising From The East"
As Kia themselves claim, their name is not just a meaningless syllable. It actually consists of two Sino-Korean characters: 起 (ki), which means "to come out" or "to rise," and 亞 (a), which means "East" or "Asia." Hence, the name translates at "Coming from Asia" or "Rising from the East."
13 They Had To Shut Down After A Military Coup In South Korea
In 1979, the South Korean government was overthrown in a military coup and Korea fell under the rule of a military dictator. As a result, all major industrial manufacturers were forced to repurpose themselves for military production - including Kia. The company had to entirely shut down the production of passenger cars in favor of light trucks.
12 Ford Helped Kia Get Back Into Production
Following the coup and its military effort contribution, Kia was looking for opportunities to get back into passenger cars. Unfortunately, the company didn't have the resources or the technological base to do it on their own. Enter Ford! The two companies struck a deal where Kia would manufacture some of Ford's models under a license for the South Korean market.
11 Kia Has The Third Lowest Rate of Recalls
Now that we've covered Kia's history let's explore their achievements! Kia is famous for how reliable their cars are, and this fame is not unsubstantiated. According to a study, conducted by iSeeCars, Kia has the third-lowest recall rate after Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.
Moreover, the steep pricing of the two German manufacturers effectively makes Kia the most reliable mass-market car brand.
10 Awards, So Many Awards
The low rate of recalls is not the only thing that underlines Kia's outstanding reputation for reliability. In recent years, the Korean manufacturer has also been making headlines for its numerous awards.
Kia vehicles consistently win the "best quality" awards from J.D. Power. More recently, their Telluride SUV won the so-called "Triple Crown" of automotive awards - the first SUV to do so.
9 Pope Francis-Approved
Many car brands sometimes employ famous people to serve as their brand ambassadors. Few ever managed to recruit someone as famous as Pope Francis - but Kia did! During his visit to Abu Dhabi, the Pope got around in a simple, understated Kia Soul, The Drive writes. Less is, indeed, more - and the Pope knows it.
8 Kia Also Manufactures Military Vehicles
Kia's business is fueled to a large extent by affordable hatchbacks and SUVs. However, they also have more extravagant offerings in their portfolio. Kia is a contractor for the South Korean military and supplies them with a wide range of vehicles.
7 They Focus On The European Market
Kia has a strong presence almost all around the globe, but it seems like in recent years the European market has been their priority. In 2018, they achieved record sales of 494,304 cars in their tenth consecutive year of growth. It's hard to compete with the domestic players in Europe, but Kia shows no signs of slowing down!
6 European Origins Of The Kia Ceed
To really understand how much Kia values their European customers, consider the Kia Ceed. This compact hatchback is exclusive to the European market, was designed by a Hungarian designer in Frankfurt and its name stands for "Community of Europe, European Design."
5 Their Chief Design Officer Is European, Too
Kia claims that one of the main reasons for their success in Europe is the distinctive design of their car. For that, they should thank their head designer Peter Schreyer. Most famous for his work on the Audi TT, Schreyer joined Kia in 2006 and has been loyal to the company ever since.
4 Kia Sponsors Lots Of Athletes
Kia's portfolio of sports sponsorship deals is easily as wide as their car lineup. They support organizations, such as FIFA and NBA. Events, such as the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship. And individual athletes, such as LeBron James and Rafael Nadal.
3 The Logo Was Recently Redesigned
Kia's famous red oval logo has remained unchanged for years. Recently, however, they decided to freshen up the designed and patented a new sleek logo. Gone is the everlasting oval - the logo has been reduced simply to "KIΛ," written in a nicely flowing font.
2 They Use Different Logos In South Korea
While Kia's red oval logo is very well-known around the world, the situation in their native South Korea is different. For years, they've used a stylized "K" logo in their domestic market - which even inspired an aftermarket replacement badge in other countries.
One of their most recent models - the Stinger - now comes with an "E" badge in South Korea. Nobody knows why - but it looks cool!
1 Kia Is Owned By Hyundai
It might not come as a surprise to some, but it will to those who believed the two Korean manufacturers to be arch-rivals. And while Kia in Hyundai might still compete in a friendly way, they are actually the same company. Kia has been a subsidiary of Hyundai since 1998, and together they are the third-largest car manufacturer in the world.