It is South Korea's second largest automobile manufacturer, having sold over 1.6 million cars in 2009. The word Kia derives from Korean words meaning "to arise to the world from Asia." Kia was founded on June 9, 1944 as a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycle parts by hand. In 1952, Kia changed its name from Kyungsung Precision Industry and later built motorcycles (starting in 1957), trucks (1962) and cars (1974). The company opened its first integrated automotive assembly plant in 1973, the Sohari Plant. 
Starting in 1986, in partnership with Ford, Kia produced several Mazda derived vehicles for both domestic sales in South Korea 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. The headquarters are in Seoul. The company is partly owned by the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group. Since August 21, 2009, Hyoung-Keun (Hank) Lee leads the company's global operations from the headquarters in Seoul. North American and European arms are operated by Kia Motors America and Kia Motors Europe respectively. 
Since 2005, Kia has focused on the European market and has identified design as its "core future growth engine"—leading to the hiring of Peter Schreyer in 2006 as Chief Design Officer and his subsequent creation of a new corporate grille known as the 'Tiger Nose'.
Car designs
From 1995 to 1999, Kia produced left and right hand drive versions of the Sportage SUV at the Karmann factory in Germany. From 1999 until production of the model ceased in 2003, all Sportage production reverted to South Korea. The European range expanded in 1994 when Kia began importing the larger Mentor, a range of medium sized hatchbacks and sedan, which were marketed as cheap and well-equipped alternatives to the likes of the Ford Escort and Vauxhall/Opel Astra. A facelift in 1999 saw the Mentor name retained for the saloon, but the hatchback was renamed Shuma. These models remained on sale until 2004, when the newer Cerato was launched and gave Kia one of its first serious competitors for mainstream brands. The Sportage SUV range has been popular across Europe. Kia launched of its Credos four-door sedan in 1999. This car was similar in size to the Ford Mondeo. It had a spacious interior, large boot, competitive asking price and high equipment levels, but it had little more appeal to sway buyers away from established European brands like Ford Motor Company, Vauxhall/Opel, Renault and Peugeot. Kia entered the MPV market in 1999 with the Sedona. On its launch, it was the cheapest full-size people carrier on sale in the United Kingdom. Beside producing commercial vehicles, KIA also has specialized in the production of military vehicles with variants and other transportation equipment and by supplying them as a sole maker of military vehicles designated by the South Korean Government since 1976. Kia is currently designing a Kaiser Jeep M715-type vehicle named the KM450 for the South Korean Army on license from the U.S. Government.
KIA Defense produces six vehicles: KM42 half ton to three quarter ton variants of the M715, KM-45 modern variant of the M715, KM-25 variant of the M35 2-1/2 ton cargo truck, KM-50 variant of the M809 Truck both as 5 ton and 7 ton variants, KM-100 8×8 heavy tactical truck and K53 similar to the Swedish BV amphibious tracked vehicle. For passenger cars, KIA produces Cadenza/K7, cee'd/cee'd SW/pro_cee'd, Forte/Cerato, Forte Koup, Morning/Picanto, Opirus/Amanti, Optima, Rio/Rio5/Pride, Soul, Venga, K9 (expected November 2011) and Rino (expected March 2012). While for SUV/vans. KIA launches Carens/Rondo, Carnival/Sedona, Mohave/Borrego, Sorento and Sportage. In addition, for commercial cars, KIA offers K2700/Strong/3000S/2500TCI- KMC only, K4000s – KMC only, AM928 – KMC only and Granbird – KMC only. Moreover, Kia plans mass-production of the Kia Sportage all-electric Crossover (CUV) and has unveiled the Kia Venga and Kia Pop city car with SK Energy's lithium-ion batteries as well.
Starting in 1986, in partnership with Ford, Kia produced several Mazda derived vehicles for both domestic sales in South Korea 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. The headquarters are in Seoul. The company is partly owned by the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group. Since August 21, 2009, Hyoung-Keun (Hank) Lee leads the company's global operations from the headquarters in Seoul. North American and European arms are operated by Kia Motors America and Kia Motors Europe respectively. 
Since 2005, Kia has focused on the European market and has identified design as its "core future growth engine"—leading to the hiring of Peter Schreyer in 2006 as Chief Design Officer and his subsequent creation of a new corporate grille known as the 'Tiger Nose'.Car designs
From 1995 to 1999, Kia produced left and right hand drive versions of the Sportage SUV at the Karmann factory in Germany. From 1999 until production of the model ceased in 2003, all Sportage production reverted to South Korea. The European range expanded in 1994 when Kia began importing the larger Mentor, a range of medium sized hatchbacks and sedan, which were marketed as cheap and well-equipped alternatives to the likes of the Ford Escort and Vauxhall/Opel Astra. A facelift in 1999 saw the Mentor name retained for the saloon, but the hatchback was renamed Shuma. These models remained on sale until 2004, when the newer Cerato was launched and gave Kia one of its first serious competitors for mainstream brands. The Sportage SUV range has been popular across Europe. Kia launched of its Credos four-door sedan in 1999. This car was similar in size to the Ford Mondeo. It had a spacious interior, large boot, competitive asking price and high equipment levels, but it had little more appeal to sway buyers away from established European brands like Ford Motor Company, Vauxhall/Opel, Renault and Peugeot. Kia entered the MPV market in 1999 with the Sedona. On its launch, it was the cheapest full-size people carrier on sale in the United Kingdom. Beside producing commercial vehicles, KIA also has specialized in the production of military vehicles with variants and other transportation equipment and by supplying them as a sole maker of military vehicles designated by the South Korean Government since 1976. Kia is currently designing a Kaiser Jeep M715-type vehicle named the KM450 for the South Korean Army on license from the U.S. Government.
KIA Defense produces six vehicles: KM42 half ton to three quarter ton variants of the M715, KM-45 modern variant of the M715, KM-25 variant of the M35 2-1/2 ton cargo truck, KM-50 variant of the M809 Truck both as 5 ton and 7 ton variants, KM-100 8×8 heavy tactical truck and K53 similar to the Swedish BV amphibious tracked vehicle. For passenger cars, KIA produces Cadenza/K7, cee'd/cee'd SW/pro_cee'd, Forte/Cerato, Forte Koup, Morning/Picanto, Opirus/Amanti, Optima, Rio/Rio5/Pride, Soul, Venga, K9 (expected November 2011) and Rino (expected March 2012). While for SUV/vans. KIA launches Carens/Rondo, Carnival/Sedona, Mohave/Borrego, Sorento and Sportage. In addition, for commercial cars, KIA offers K2700/Strong/3000S/2500TCI- KMC only, K4000s – KMC only, AM928 – KMC only and Granbird – KMC only. Moreover, Kia plans mass-production of the Kia Sportage all-electric Crossover (CUV) and has unveiled the Kia Venga and Kia Pop city car with SK Energy's lithium-ion batteries as well.
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