Have you ever wondered, “where is Kia made?” Kia is headquartered in Seoul, but the automaker also has plants in Georgia and Slovakia. While most Kearny Mesa drivers know Kia as the auto manufacturer that produces fun-designed, high-quality, and reliable automobiles, many aren’t aware of the origins of Kia. Read to learn more about Kia history with the team at Kearny Mesa Kia.
Kia originated in South Korea and is headquartered in Seoul. More specifically, they’re made in Southwest Seoul in the Yeongdeungpo-gu district. In 1973, Kia opened its first integrated automotive assembly plant and produced automobiles mainly for the Korean market.
What’s unique about the beginning of Kia is that the brand originally manufactured steel pipes and bicycle parts by hand. Once the company established itself in the steel industry, they began building complete bikes in 1951. A year later, the name “Kia” was born. Kia then began producing motorcycles and in 1962, the company moved to commercial vehicles, becoming the Kia Motors that San Diego drivers know and love today!
It wasn’t until about three decades later in 1992 that Kia dealerships started opening in the United States. By 1995, there were 30 dealerships in the nation. Kia has continued to prosper over the years, creating popular vehicles like Soul and Sportage.
Kia was first introduced to the North American market in 1994 and ever since then, the company has been spreading throughout the North American and European markets. Today, in addition to the headquarters inSeoul, Kia has an assembly plant in West Point, Georgia and Zilina, Slovakia.
Kia has come a long way from its roots as a bike parts manufacturer to a brand that produces some of the world’s most popular vehicles. You can become a part of Kia history by financing one of the many models in our new vehicle inventory. If you have any questions, contact our dealership near Kearny Mesa our team will help you find the perfect Kia for your San Diego drives. Find out some additional information about the popular automaker such as what Kia UVO does.
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