Kia History:
South Koreasoldest car company, Kia was founded in 1944 as manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycles. In 1952, Kia changed its name from Kyungsung Precision Industry, and later built motorcycles, trucks and cars. Starting in 1986, in partnership with Ford, Kia produced several Mazda derived vehicles for both domestic sales in Korea and exports into other countries. These models include the Pride (based on the Mazda 121) and Avella, which were sold in North America and Australasia as the Ford Festiva and Ford Aspire. In 1992, Kia Motors America was incorporated in the United States. The first Kia-branded vehicles in the United States were sold from four dealerships in Portland, Oregon in February 1994. Since then, Kia expanded methodically one region at a time. Dealers in 1994 sold the Sephia, and a few years later the United States line expanded with the addition of the Sportage. However, Kiasbankruptcy in 1997, part of the Asian financial crisis, resulted in the company being acquired in 1998 by South Korean rival Hyundai Motor Company, outbidding Ford Motor Company which had owned an interest in Kia Motors since 1986.

Kia Overview:
Kia Motors is South Koreas2nd largest automobile manufacturer with headquarters in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Its CEO is Chung Eui-sun. The American arm is Kia Motors America. On October 20, 2006, Kia Motors America formally hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its first US assembly plant in West Point, Georgia, at an initial cost of over $1 billion. Since 2005, Kia has started to focus on the European market and is currently the UKsfastest growing car company and had various other successes in the European market.

Other Kia Details:
Kia motors is a subsidiary of Hyundai Kia Automotive Group. Their headquarters is in Seoul, South Korea. Kia is one of the companies of the Hyundai Motor Group and has four subsidiaries: Kia Motors Europe ,Kia Dewan Motors Pakistan ,Doongpung Ywieda Kia ,Kia Motors America ,Asia Motors, Ltd ,Kia Motors Slovakia. Dongfeng Yueda Kia Automobile Company is a joint venture in China with Dongfeng Motor Corporation. Their current model line up include; Passenger cars, SUV/Van and Commercial vehicles. Their current model line up include; Avella (was rebadged as the Ford Aspire in North America) ,Brisa (based on the Mazda Familia) ,Capital (based on the Mazda Capella),Concord (based on the Mazda Capella) ,Clarus/Credos ,Morning/Picanto Opirus/Amanti ,Optima/Optima-Regal/Magentis ,Optima/Magentis/Lotze ,Rio/Pride ,Sportage, Bongo (based on the Mazda Bongo) ,Besta (based on the Mazda Bongo) ,Wide-Bongo (based on the Mazda Bongo) ,Bongo-Frontier/K Series ,Carens ,Carens/Carens II/X-Trek (2nd generation) ,Carens/Rondo (3rd generation) ,Kia KB (based on the Hino Truck) ,Rhino/Wide-Boxer ,Kia Trade ,Kia Boxer (based on the Mazda Boxer) ,Kia AM Truck (based on the Hino Super Dolphin) ,Kia Pamax (based on the Hyundai Mighty II) ,Kia Rhino (based on the Hino Ranger) ,Kia Granbird ,Kia Power-Combi (based on the Mazda Parkway),Kia New Cosmos (based on the Hino Rainbow RJ) ,Kia Frontier (1.4ton/2.5ton) .However, its important to note that all these models are made from different Hyundai Motor Group Kia subsidiaries.