Who owns Kia?

South Korean brands like Kia and Hyundai have been making waves for decades around Leominster and beyond. They’re reliable, they’re sporty, sleek, fuel-efficient, and so much more. But you might be wondering to yourself, “Who owns Kia Motors? Are they independent?” Well, the short answer is no, but they used to be. Find out more about who is Kia owned by, as well as some of the history of Kia Motors today with Ron Bouchard Kia before you browse our inventory of different Kia models to take home your favorite to Fitchburg 

Who Owns Hyundai and Kia

When it comes to who owns Kia, you need a little history lesson about this juggernaut of South Korean automobiles. Kia Motors was originally known by the name Kyungsung Precision Industry, and started in 1944 where they made steel tubing and bicycles parts which eventually led to the creation of South Korea’s first domestic bike in 1951 and the following year changed their name to Kia Industries. Beginning in 1957, and in the years after, Kia Industries began producing Honda-licensed small motorcycles, Mazda-licensed trucks and cars, and was responsible for building the Mazda Brisa range of cars until 1981 when the President of South Korea consolidated the industries which caused both Kia Industries and Hyundai had to change their production toward light trucks. However, starting in 1986, Kia Industries partnered with Ford to shift back into the production of passenger cars going from manufacturing 26 cars in 1986 to 95,000 cars the following year. 

But Who is Kia Owned By?

In 1992 Kia Motors America was incorporated in the United States, however five years later, Kia declared bankruptcy due to the Asian Financial Crisis following a credit bubble burst that crippled East and Southeast Asian economies. It was in 1998 that Kia Motors reached an agreement with Hyundai Motor Company that resulted in Hyundai becoming the majority stakeholder in Kia, while Kia retained ownership of a number of Hyundai Motor Company subsidiaries. This means that the answer to the question “Who is Kia owned by?” as well as “Who owns Hyundai and Kia?” is Hyundai Motor Company. However, they still have a great deal of autonomy. 

Where are Kia Models Made?

It’s not only important to know who owns Kia Motors, but also where their models are manufactured! Their original automobile plant is still in operation in outside of Seoul, created in 1973. They also have three other South Korean based automobile factories! They also have opened plants over the years in China, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Slovakia, the United States, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam! Furthermore, they have a total of 14 facilities across eight countries while also having four design and research centers in four countries! All to make sure you get the right Kia model for your driveway in Fitchburg!

Find Your Kia Model Today at Ron Bouchard Kia

Now that you know who owns Kia Motors, as well as the answer to who owns Hyundai and Kia, the next step is to browse our inventory of new vehicles to find the one that works best for you, by taking advantage of our new vehicle specials for additional savings. Let our finance department show you how easy it can be for you to take home your favorite model to Gardner and beyond with our assortment of car buying tips.