Kia

Kia Corporation, headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automaker, trailing only its parent company, Hyundai Motor Company. In 2025, Kia reported global sales exceeding 3.1 million vehicles. Hyundai holds a 35.17% stake in Kia, with related parties bringing total ownership to 36.99%. This relationship has shaped both brands' strategies and product lines.

The company traces its roots to December 11, 1944, when Kim Chul-ho founded Kyungsung Precision Industry, a maker of bicycle parts and steel tubing. Kia produced Korea's first domestic bicycle in 1951, entered the motorcycle market in 1957, and built its first car, the Kia Brisa, in 1973. The name Kia derives from Sino-Korean characters meaning "to arise from Asia." After near-bankruptcy during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Hyundai acquired Kia in 1998, forming the Hyundai Motor Group.

Today, Kia offers a full lineup from subcompact SUVs like the Soul and Seltos to the three-row Telluride and EV9. Its electric vehicle push includes the EV6 crossover and the EV9, both critically acclaimed. The PV5 electric van has captured 37% of Europe's small EV van market. Kia America and Kia Finance America serve the U.S. market, and the company recently announced a $649 million investment to produce the EV3 in Mexico. [edit]