Where is Kia Made?

These days Kia vehicles can be found in all shapes and sizes all over the world from Englewood to Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond. Have you ever stopped and asked yourself “Where is Kia made?” The Kia brand has a rich history starting in the 1940s in Seoul, South Korea, and eventually spreading internationally. Check out the brief history of the Kia auto brand below from the team at Kia of Port Charlotte!

What Country is Kia From?

Before we dive into the history of the Kia brand, let’s clear up one key question: What country is Kia from? Kia is from South Korea, so it’s a South Korean automotive brand, currently headquartered in Seoul, more specifically in the Yeongdeungpo-gu District in the southwest part of the city. Today, Kia is owned by the Hyundai Motor Company and is the second-largest producer of automobiles in South Korea!

A Brief Kia History

Kia traces its roots all the way back to the 1940s, and it didn’t actually start out as an automobile manufacturer! Originally, the company was called Kyungsung Precision Industry, and it manufactured steel pipes and bicycle parts. In 1951, the company started manufacturing complete bicycles, and a year later, in 1952, they changed their name to Kia Industries. As the 1950s went on, Kia began to diversify into motorcycles and eventually automobiles, producing their first commercial vehicle in 1962. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that Kia opened its first automobile dealership in the United States, but they grew extremely quickly – by 1995, after just three years, there were already 30 dealerships stateside! This led to the development of beloved Kia vehicles that are still driven in North Port and beyond today, such as the Sportage and the Soul.

Where are Kia Vehicles Made Now?

While Kia is still headquartered in Seoul – which is also the location of its primary automobile plant, the company has a strong presence in the North American and European markets as well. In addition to its Seoul plant, Kia has major assembly plants in West Point, Georgia, and Zilina, Slovakia!

Find Your Next Ride at Kia of Port Charlotte

It’s one thing to read about the history of Kia on paper and another to experience one of their vehicles in person! If you’re interested in seeing how one of our models handles on the Venice roads, contact our office to set up a test drive. You can also head to our model research hub to learn about specific vehicles in the Kia lineup!