Heritage – Lucky Motors (KIA)

Brand Heritage Awards

A different Beat, Your Joyful Moment

Heritage

1940
1960
1974
1998
2010 Now

1940-1960

The origin of Wheeled
Vehicles in Korea

Founded around that time under the name of Kyungsung Precision Industry, Kia was the first in Korea to make bicycles and later build motorcycles requiring no manual power to move. This marked the start of the dream of being Korea's first maker of four-wheeled automobiles.

1944 Kyungsung Precision Industry, the origin of Kia, is founded.

1952 The Samchully, Korea's first bicycle, is unveiled.

In 1952 company is renamed Kia Industries

1952 The company is renamed Kia Industries.

1960-1973

Kia, the Pioneer of Korea's Automobile Industry

Kia Motors launched the Kia Honda C-100 in 1961 after years of sustained efforts to develop a two-wheeled and a three-wheeled vehicle. Subsequently, it secured the capability to produce an original three-wheeled vehicle for the first time in Korea's automotive industry when it launched the Kia-Mazda K-360 in 1962.

The huge popularity of the K-360 provided us with the strength to start the second round of development of three-wheeled vehicles in 1967, successfully launching the Kia-Mazda T-2000 and T-600 later on.

1969 The T-600 starts production.

1973 The Sohari Plant opens.

1973 The Brisa pickup starts production.

1974-1997

A Giant Leap towards Becoming a Global Automaker

Kia has offered many great models that gained huge popularity among local and international consumers, including the Brisa, the first originally developed passenger car in Korea dubbed the "People's Car"; the Pride, the first Korean car ever to reach production of 1 million units; and the Sportage, the world first passenger car-type SUV to complete the famed Paris-Dakar Rally.

1974 The passenger car Brisa is unveiled.

1986 The Pride starts production.

1987 The Pride sets foot on U.S. soil.

1987 The midsize Concord sedan starts production.

In 1992 Sephia, Kia's first independently developed passenger car, starts production

1992 The Sephia, Kia's first independently developed passenger car, starts production.

1993 Completed construction of a proving ground at the Asan Plant

In 1993 Sportage completes the Paris-Dakar Rally

1993 The Sportage completes the 1993 Paris-Dakar Rally.

In 1996 Elan, Korea's first authentic sport car, is launched

1996 The Elan, Korea's first authentic sport car, is launched.

1998-2010

Challenging Ourselves to Be
a Better Global Brand

The joining of Peter Schreyer - one of the world's top 3 automotive designers - as the chief design officer of Kia marked the start of our drive to establish a market-leading design identity.

Meanwhile, our continued investment in R&D has enabled us to develop a full-lineup of vehicles across all segments as well as propelled Kia to the 69th position on Interbrand's annual list of 100 Best Global Brands.