Kia Motors Showcases Vehicles and Technologies at Seoul Motor Show

Kia Motors used this year's Seoul Motor Show to display its fully updated range of passenger vehicles alongside a range of technologies for the future. Principle attractions were the KCV-I and KCV-II, which made their global debuts at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show and the 2002 Paris Motors Show, respectively.

In his opening address to the Show, Kia Motors President Noi-myung Kim said, "With its solid financial foundation, Kia Motors, along with Hyundai Motor Company, aims to become a global top 5 automaker by the year 2010. To reach this goal, we will focus on globalizing our production capacity and sales network and raising brand recognition and awareness, as a part of our business strategy to seek both quantitative and qualitative growth".

Mr. Kim also spoke at length about Kia Motors' drive to improve quality. The company's 6 Sigma quality program, implemented 3 years ago, has won the 2001 Korean Quality First Award and the 2002 6 SIGMA Innovation Award in Kia's home market.

Vehicles on display included the explosively popular Sorento SUV and the newest versions of the Optima / Magentis, Rio and Carens mini-MPV. Other attractions included the sumptuously apportioned Carnival Limousine, a luxury version of Kia's award-winning MPV, that includes full leather upholstery, a roof mounted TV monitor attached to a DVD player, reclining rear seats with leg rests, folding office-style tables and a wine cooler.

The stars of the show were the two concept cars. The KVC-I multipurpose concept car is based on the Carens platform. Designed at the Sohari plant in Korea, the vehicle features exterior cameras and a head-up display projected onto the windscreen. The KCV-II is a sports utility vehicle developed in 2002 year at Kia's European Design center in Eschborn, Germany. The KCV-II combines the features of an SUV a pick-up and a Coupe and includes refinements including sporty butterfly-style doors, advanced safety features and night-vision technology.

Safety and technology were two other main themes of Kia¡¯s exhibition this year, with sections devoted to telematics, airbag technology and structural design.

"Kia Motors has gained the energy, confidence and potential to take its place globally,- said Mr. Kim. "We are certain that the objectives we hope to achieve in the future will come as a result of our efforts today".