Kia Is Best UK Automotive Franchise Says Institute Of Transport Management

The Kia franchise is the one to have in the automotive business according to England's transport industry's leading professional body.

BIRMINGHAM, England - July 9, 2006: In announcing Kia Motors (UK) Limited as winner of its prestigious annual award – Best Automotive Franchise Network 2006 – the ITM and its 10,000 members said that Kia was best placed to help a "retailer jump-start their dream of being their own boss".

The ITM went on to say that with the automotive industry changing beyond all recognition retailers are demanding more efficient, more cost-effective and more flexible services from the vehicle manufacturers.

"In response, manufacturers such as Kia are not just rising to the challenge – they are turning the franchise process on its head to identify ways to help its retailers raise their profiles and further enhance service standards.

"The ITM Awards Committee reviewed the entire culture of the nominees, with the objective of finding the company that offered unequivocal standards of Customer Service, Vehicle Range, Aftersales Solutions and overall professionalism and reliability. Kia UK distinguished itself in all these areas. The runners-up in this prestigious category were Honda, Hyundai (winners last year) and Citroën UK," it added.

They added: "The results of the independent research have shown that in becoming a Kia franchisee in the UK, a retailer can jumpstart his or her dream of being their own boss and being backed by one of the UK’s fastest growing automotive brands."

Paul Williams, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) Limited said: "We are delighted at this additional and prestigious endorsement of what we have been striving to achieve for the last four years. We recognise that dealer profitability is essential to our business potential and that without dealers who are prepared to invest in facilities, training and services we cannot make the impact on the potential and existing customers who are vital to the success of both the Kia brand and our dealers.

"The ITM award is particularly pleasing because nominations have to be made by ITM members and are independently scrutinised. That kind of endorsement encourages everyone in the business to strive even harder to keep the change and the improvement moving forward in the ever-changing car market," added Williams.