South Korea’s very first automotive export took place in 1975, when a small number of Kia Brisa pickups were shipped to Qatar. Since then, the company has made its progress in leaps and bounds, leaving a significant imprint of the global automotive industry, particularly in recent years with the introduction of new generation models including Picanto, Rio, Sorento, Sportage and Optima.
The first five million vehicles were delivered until March 2005, taking Kia Motors 30 years to reach the milestone. But in only took six more years to double that figure, thanks to a focused management strategy that has resulted in rapid enhancements in product design and quality as well as major improvements in its global marketing and dealer network strengthening activities.
The official ceremony that marked the shipping milestone was held today at Pyeongtaek Port which was packed with some 400 guests, including Kia Motors Vice Chairman & CEO Hyoung-Keun Lee, local government officials and numerous foreign dignitaries stationed in Korea.
“Today’s accomplishment would not have been possible without our loyal customers and hard working Kia employees around the world. Kia Motors vows to dedicate ourselves to the sustainable development of the global economy and the local communities in which we serve,” said Lee.
Since the first export, cumulative figures have reached 4.27 million in North America, 2.45 million in Europe and 0.88 million in the Asia & Pacific area. Kia Motors has made the biggest strides in the North American market, where global carmakers are engaged in heated competition.
By model, the A-segment Picanto is the biggest export product with 764,453 cumulative units shipped, followed by the B-segment Rio and Sorento CUV, with 747,554 units and 656,446 units shipped, respectively.
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