Collection: Kia

Kia Corporation, South Korea’s oldest car manufacturer, was founded in 1944 as Kyungsung Precision Industry, originally producing bicycle parts and steel tubing before moving into motorcycles, trucks, and eventually automobiles. In 1952, the company was renamed Kia, which roughly translates to “rising from Asia.” Kia built its first car in the 1970s under license from other automakers, and by the 1980s, it was producing vehicles for domestic and limited international markets. After a brief partnership with Ford, Kia entered the U.S. market in 1994 with the Sephia and Sportage, offering budget-friendly options that quickly gained traction. However, the Asian financial crisis in the late ’90s pushed Kia into bankruptcy, leading to its acquisition by Hyundai Motor Company in 1999. Since then, Kia has undergone a massive transformation—investing in design, quality, and innovation to become a major global brand. With help from designers like Peter Schreyer, Kia reinvented its image with bold styling and dependable performance. Today, Kia is known for its value-packed, stylish vehicles like the Telluride, K5, and EV6, competing directly with established global automakers and earning praise for quality, technology, and its growing electric vehicle lineup.