When drivers in Federal Way, Cottage Grove, and Roseburg shop for a new Kia vehicle they often wonder where the vehicles are made. Although the brand's headquarters are located in Seoul, South Korea, Kia vehicles are also built in West Point, Georgia and Zilina, Slovakia.
Founded in 1944, Kia's history actually begins far from the automotive industry, making steel pipes and bicycle parts by hand. The company eventually adopted the name "Kia" and began manufacturing bikes in 1951, then motorcycles in 1952 and finally commercial vehicles in 1962.
Now, Kia makes a full line of cars and SUVs that have become increasingly popular in North American and European markets. The brand operates three design facilities in Korea, Europe and North America along with ten assembly plants around the globe.
In its 'home' country of South Korea, Kia operates three major vehicle assembly plants as well as world-class research and development centres. These include the Eco-Technology Research Institute, which is working on hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and state-of-the-art end-of-life vehicle recycling technologies.
There are also two manufacturing plants in Vietnam. One is a joint venture with Truong Hai Automobile Co. The other is a Kia plant in Chu Lai, Quang Nam Province.
Whether you're in the market for a new car or SUV, there are many affordable Kia models to choose from. The most popular models in Kia's lineup are the Soul, Sorento, and Niro. These popular Kia vehicles are available in FWD or AWD, with options for multiple trim levels.
