Kia Begins Year With Record Sales

               Sales Up 12 Percent Versus Same Month Last Year

    IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 3 -- Kia began 2003 by setting a sales
record with a 12 percent increase over the same month in 2002.  The company
sold a total of 18,524 vehicles, posting the strongest January ever, with an
increase of 27 percent from last month.
    "We're off to a very strong start in 2003 with the best January in our
company's history, up 12 percent from last January and up 27 percent from last
month," said Peter M. Butterfield, Kia president and chief executive officer.
"We expect to post another record sales year in 2003, with especially strong
volume projected for our new Sorento mid-size SUV."
    Kia Motors America is the U.S. sales, marketing and service arm of Kia
Motors Corp. in Seoul, South Korea.



                               MONTH OF JANUARY            YEAR-TO-DATE
    Model                     2003          2002         2003          2002

    Optima                   1,847         2,523        1,847         2,523
    Rio                      3,040         3,720        3,040         3,720
    Sedona                   2,846         2,218        2,846         2,218
    Spectra                  5,978         4,281        5,978         4,281
    Sportage                 1,702         3,832        1,702         3,832
    Sorento                  3,111           n/a        3,111           n/a

    Total                   18,524        16,574       18,524        16,574