Precision Industry - Kia
Via Car Throttle
By Caleb Morales
During the May of 1944, in Busan, a city within Japanese occupied Korea, Kim Cheol-Ho fostered a new company for the Korean workforce. This company was called Kyungsung Precision Industries, producing steel and bicycle parts. In 1945, Korea was a new independent nation after Japan withdrew post-World War II, and sought to rapidly rebuild their nation. In doing so, they asked companies like Kyungsung Precision Industries to produce the metal materials needed for revitalization. They kept up with demand, and even in 1951, came up with their very own bicycle, the Samchully.
Via Paul’s Vintage Bicycles
As the rest of Asia continued to rebuild and revolutionize, Kyungsung Precision Industries decided to do the same, changing their name to KIA, roughly meaning Arise (KI) Asia (A).
In 1957, KIA transitioned from steel and bike production into motorcycle and small truck production. They fostered a partnership with Mazda to bring Japanese models into the Korean market built under the KIA name and factories. The first model to produce was a 3 wheeled truck model: known as the K-360.
Via City Kia Orlando
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, KIA gained the recognition and financial backing to start developing their own fully in-house built car. The first model was introduced in 1973, known as the Brisa, a small four-door economy car. KIA gained popularity for offering economic-focused transportation for the Korean and Australian markets. Yet, with the tense change of government in 1981, they had to halt production. After the political tensions lowered in the impending 1990s, KIA returned to the auto industry, continuing a partnership with Mazda along with starting new partnerships with Ford and Lotus to rebadge models. They sought to offer cars like the economical Ford Festiva, and most notably in 1996, the lightweight and sporty Lotus Elan. Similarly to the older partnership with Mazda, part of the partnership with Ford and Lotus was to include the production of foreign models in Korean auto plants. There were over 1000 Elan models produced with the Kia badge, which made the Elan the first sports car in Korean history.
Via Carthrottle
KIA’s comeback was noted yet met with economic hardship as the 1997 Asian financial crisis was affecting many industries. In the wake of the crisis, KIA was forced to declare bankruptcy. With the initial fall of KIA, bigger brands like Ford had the opportunity to buy the rights to KIA. However, a bigger Korean brand: Hyundai was able to buy the majority stake of the KIA brand.
Via MGN
Throughout the 2000s, Kia shifted focus to sales in the European and North American markets to have a larger market share. KIA produced economical sedans such as the Rio and SUV models such as the Sportage. Although growing their line up, KIA was still met with criticism from the general public, who considered their cars to be low quality and second rate. In response to this, Hyundai hired former BMW Head of Engineering, Albert Bierrman and Audi Designer Peter Scheryer. Their job was to engineer and design a sports sedan that will aid the efforts of showcasing prowess and potential from the Korean brands.
Via Autocar NZ
The sports sedan they came up with? The KIA Stinger, with a 365hp 3.3l twin turbo V6, an 8 speed paddle shifted transmission and RWD and AWD variants designed to go up against the BMW 3 series and the Mercedes C class. KIA also entered the emerging electric car market with the EV6 model, and won the award for 2022 car of the year, marking the model the first Korean car to win such an award.
Via Carthrottle
Kia’s market share has grown exponentially in the last 10 years, becoming a very common sight on any road throughout America. The KIA brand even impressed me to the point of purchasing a Kia Forte for myself, and I encourage others who might be interested to check out the brand for themselves!
