[RSR]

A period of two years is pretty quick time to build a greenfield plant from scratch, but I hope Kia starts building up the dealership network even before that. They can bring in one or two low volume, high profit models to keep the dealerships happy till then.

The new Stinger GT would be a great choice as a halo car to create a favourable brand image (remember how Hyundai had to work really, really hard to take their brand upmarket?) for a largely unknown brand like Kia:



They can assemble the Stinger from CKD / SKD kits at Hyundai's factory till their own one is up & running. This way, people will not only have a favourable image about Kia, but the dealership network would also be developed enough to handle the first volume product whenever it gets launched.

[Faramir]

Originally Posted by GTO

Notice the complete absence of Hyundai - The slanted H isn't even mentioned once.

Seems Hyundai is learning from Maruti, and perhaps launch of Nexa prompted the thoughts of having dual brands in India.

Maruti has been having multiple same segment hatchbacks in their product portfolio since quite a few years, and has been able to garner the incremental volumes the Indian car market is generating.

For the Koreans to grow faster and capture more of India's car market share, this is indeed an apt move, and more choices for consumers

[shortbread]

Originally Posted by GTO

Notice the complete absence of Hyundai - The slanted H isn't even mentioned once.

Why? It allows Kia to have an independent image in the eyes of the public. A new brand also means that Kia can increase volumes by introducing more cars in the hatchback segments (where Hyundai already has enough cars) and more dealers (including in the vicinity of Hyundai dealerships). This wouldn't have been possible without a fresh brand.

Make no mistake Hyundai and Kia see each other as rivals and no two ways about it. In Europe Kia came very-very close to eclipsing Hyundai and I would not be surprised if it does happen in the not too distant future.

They do share the same parent, R&D, platforms, plants etc; but once the cars leave the factory floor that relationship ends. The Korean big 3 competed intensively with each other in the domestic market and even after the acquisition and Daewoo's collapse, these two see each other as rivals. In fact Hyundai's share in Kia is well below 50%.

Kia has its own shareholders to answer to.

[RSR]

Kia's first car in India - Rio sedan?

Some auto websites are *speculating* that the first car to be rolled out of Kia's Indian plant will be the new 2018 Rio sedan:



I don't know where they got that information from, as construction of the plant is yet to begin, but it does make sense for the Rio family to be a part of Kia's plans in India.

The 2018 Rio sedan is basically the cousin of Hyundai's next generation Verna that has already begun its testing phase in India. Rio sedan shares its platform & powertrain options with the Verna, but sports a completely different "top hat" and interiors.

The Rio hatchback is a cousin of Hyundai's i20. A new addition to the Rio family is a compact SUV based on the same platform, dubbed the Stonic.

[volkman10]

Kia Motors to participate in Auto Expo 2018; to showcase 3-4 models.

Apart from a compact sedan and compact SUV, Kia Motors will also showcase some high end premium cars at the Delhi Auto Expo 2018.

ET

[Uprasenjit]

I have driven few Kias. They are like Hyundais. No steering feedback but with lots of gadgets.

[GTO]

Agreed with Hyundai's decision to spread risk. Why have all your eggs in one basket? Kia CEO writes to the TN government.

Source + Full Article

The Tamil Nadu government quoted the letter written by Han-Woo Park, CEO and President Kia Motors: "...we very regretfully will not be able to consider the state of Tamil Nadu for Kia's potential greenfield project in India due to the business needs and requirements of our company and stakeholders, including, without limitation, geographical diversification, branding differentiation and diversification of supply channels and so forth.

"Under such business needs and requirements of our company and stakeholders, I hope you kindly understand that we have not established our overseas plants in the same states where the plants of Hyundai Motor Company are located (such as in the United States of America, China, Europe)."

[FIAT3031]

Finally Kia's half page AD sending out Dealership Invites in leading newspapers [Economic Times - Last Page]

http://www.kiaroadshowindia.com/

Dealer Roadshows in various cities starting with

Delhi: 8~9th Aug
Mumbai: 16-17 Aug
Bengaluru: 23~24 Aug
Kolkata: 1 Sep

Navigate through the above website, it re-directs you to the Kia India homepage
http://www.kia-motors.in/web/html/main/Main.jsp

Other than Dealer application and India Plant Information, there's a Job Application portal as well.

With Auto Expo unveiling, it seems the Korean Giant has suddenly gotten aggressive.

Nice timing - at least before the Chinese (dragons) enter the market 2019 onward. Also to en-cash on the now defunct General Motor dealerships

[ReluctantRebel]

It will be interesting to see the products showcased in the expo. I feel that it has to be something different to that offered by Hyundai, else it might eat up the sales of similar products across the two stables.

[volkman10]

KIA India opens its official website,

[sandeepmohan]

Hyundai's little brother is finally making it to India. The current Kia's are very good on design and this alone should sell. Hope the line up includes cars like the Optima, Cerato and Sorento. All very good cars.

The Optima's center console is almost a straight lift from a BMW sedan.

[ku69rd]

Lesser confusing lines look pretty good when compared to its cousin Hyundai. Hopefully they behave much better on roads with steady handling must see them doing good in our market.
Nevertheless this means more options for the customers and they get benefited the most.

[Highh5]

Half Page print media ads in Economic Times two days back from KIA Motors.

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by Highh5

Half Page print media ads in Economic Times two days back from KIA Motors.
Attachment 1661672

Similar Ads, inviting dealers, have started showing up on the internet as well.

[volkman10]

Kia to start with its sibling rivalry - to bring a Creta rival and 3 other products. The products will be heavily localized to contain cost.

The first model would be a mid-SUV to take on the likes of the Hyundai Creta. The subsequent product line-up will be a combination of sedans, hatchbacks and SUV's

Kia aims to have dealerships across India’s big cities by end-2019 and touchpoints in at least 100 places by 2022.

Link