Kia Motors in India

AvinashV · 11th October 2011, 20:16

This is something like the earlier rumour of about Daihatsu coming to India. It was supposed to plonk itself below Toyota (as Toyota is a premium brand in our country) & the relation being like Skoda & Volkswagen, but with Toyota going down to the most competitive segment in India, it sounded the death knell to the arrival of Daihatsu.

rajeev k · 11th October 2011, 20:17

These ads are aired not from recent past but I have seen them more than an year back. True it is in sports channels.

fx45 · 11th October 2011, 21:08

Many latest Kia models like the Picanto etc are usually spotted in North India, some people thing they are on test but the reality is that they are headed to Bhutan or Nepal.

pacman2881 · 11th October 2011, 22:03

There is already a thread - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...ors-india.html

The threads can be merged.

ACM · 12th October 2011, 17:36

It is just international advts being seen here.

Am tempted to say "Kya Kia"

Some of the kia vehicles are really nice and it would be good to have them here but I don't think it will work under the Kia brand.

kaustubh_vaze · 12th October 2011, 18:19

The latest one in the American mid-sized sedan segment is the Kia Optima,
274 HP, GDI, Turbo Petrol, Hybrid, 35 MPG, Panoramic sun roof, the works!!! Its an amazing car and looks good too. Most Americans though, end up buying Japanese cars and the likes of Acura/Lexus/Infiniti for the luxury ones. I haven't seen a lot of Kias on road here.

We should get one here!!

Regards
Kaustubh

suhaas307 · 12th October 2011, 19:56

Will Hyundai take that risk? Hyundai is finally establishing themselves as one of the largest manufacturers in India. They plan on bringing in several cars as the years go by. Their plans are concrete and should work. The new fluidic Verna has been received well in our market, and the i20 is due for a face-lift. The Eon is just around the corner.

So will Hyundai risk bringing in their subsidiary brand that might potentially affect the sales of Hyundai cars? I'm not sure. If VW-Skoda can have an understanding, I'm sure Hyundai can toy with the idea of bringing in Kia. But it might just be too soon, right now. let Hyundai establish themselves completely. They still have several cars in the pipeline, and plenty of segments to fill.

gears2go · 12th October 2011, 20:07

Kia may not enter the market as brand establishment is a real tough job. Moreover, Hyundai is already successful so why take a chance?

Zed · 19th March 2012, 03:01

Some of the New KIAs are decent looking cars with good with fit and finish. The Rio, pro-ceed and sportage are good looking contemporary designs. While the fluidic design direction from Hyundai has lots of takers, I really do think that there are potential buyers in India that can identify with Kia's styling.

mi2n · 19th March 2012, 10:32

Saw a huge butch KIA SUV (size of a T-Fort) a few days ago on E.M.Byepass (near Honda Showroom), Kolkata. Was not camouflaged, but bonnet and door handles were covered by white sheets. Bore a temporary plate with a non WB registration. I think it was destined for Nepal, Bhutan or Bangladesh, as i often see many Toyota and Hyundai vehicles(non-Indian models) being driven along Jessore Road destined for our neighbors.

Sorry no pics.

autocrat · 19th March 2012, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by mi2n

Saw a huge butch KIA SUV (size of a T-Fort)

Sorry no pics.

Suspect it can be a Kia Rondo.

May be introduced here as a softroader. Kia has no brand recall here - might be sold with a Hyundai badge?

SunilM · 19th March 2012, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by autocrat

Suspect it can be a Kia Rondo.

May be introduced here as a softroader. Kia has no brand recall here - might be sold with a Hyundai badge?

Kia Rondo is not of the same size as the T-Fort. It is comparable in size to the Honda CRV, so what mi2n might have seen was Kia Sorento?. That said, the Kia Rondo is a superb car, if they decide to launch it with the Hyundai badge here in India, it will fly off the shelves, especially the 7/8 seater option.

Sanjunair5 · 20th March 2012, 11:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunilM

Kia Rondo is not of the same size as the T-Fort. It is comparable in size to the Honda CRV, so what mi2n might have seen was Kia Sorento?. That said, the Kia Rondo is a superb car, if they decide to launch it with the Hyundai badge here in India, it will fly off the shelves, especially the 7/8 seater option.

Kia Sportage is Kia's compact SUV and competes with the CRV. Sorento is one size bigger mid size SUV. Rondo is not an SUV, but more of a compact mini van that comes in 5 and 7 seater configurations.

autocrat · 20th March 2012, 12:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanjunair5

Kia Sportage is Kia's compact SUV and competes with the CRV. Sorento is one size bigger mid size SUV. Rondo is not an SUV, but more of a compact mini van that comes in 5 and 7 seater configurations.

I have driven both Rondo and Soul extensively in Petrol Auto version. Soul is practical for India, but has queer styling..

lsp · 21st November 2014, 18:21

Reviving an old thread to post some pictures of the Kia Soul I spotted on 31st Oct near Adhchini, Delhi.

The car looked good in person. Couple of young guys riding in it. I couldn't pull upto them in the traffic to have a word.

Any idea about the (temp) registration number?

11th October 2011, 20:16	#61
AvinashV BHPian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mumbai Posts: 159 Thanked: 34 Times	Re: Kia In India This is something like the earlier rumour of about Daihatsu coming to India. It was supposed to plonk itself below Toyota (as Toyota is a premium brand in our country) & the relation being like Skoda & Volkswagen, but with Toyota going down to the most competitive segment in India, it sounded the death knell to the arrival of Daihatsu.
	() Thanks

11th October 2011, 20:17	#62
rajeev k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Emerging Metro Posts: 3,351 Thanked: 1,954 Times	Re: Kia In India These ads are aired not from recent past but I have seen them more than an year back. True it is in sports channels.
	() Thanks

11th October 2011, 21:08	#63
fx45 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 1,823 Thanked: 386 Times	Re: Kia In India Many latest Kia models like the Picanto etc are usually spotted in North India, some people thing they are on test but the reality is that they are headed to Bhutan or Nepal.
	() Thanks

11th October 2011, 22:03	#64
pacman2881 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 418 Thanked: 562 Times	Re: Kia In India There is already a thread - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...ors-india.html The threads can be merged.
	() Thanks

12th October 2011, 17:36	#65
ACM Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,767 Thanked: 4,502 Times View My Garage	Re: Kia In India It is just international advts being seen here. Am tempted to say "Kya Kia" Some of the kia vehicles are really nice and it would be good to have them here but I don't think it will work under the Kia brand.
	() Thanks

12th October 2011, 18:19	#66
kaustubh_vaze BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 224 Thanked: 53 Times View My Garage	Re: Kia In India The latest one in the American mid-sized sedan segment is the Kia Optima, 274 HP, GDI, Turbo Petrol, Hybrid, 35 MPG, Panoramic sun roof, the works!!! Its an amazing car and looks good too. Most Americans though, end up buying Japanese cars and the likes of Acura/Lexus/Infiniti for the luxury ones. I haven't seen a lot of Kias on road here. We should get one here!! Regards Kaustubh
	() Thanks

12th October 2011, 19:56	#67
suhaas307 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 9,146 Thanked: 14,513 Times	Re: Kia In India Will Hyundai take that risk? Hyundai is finally establishing themselves as one of the largest manufacturers in India. They plan on bringing in several cars as the years go by. Their plans are concrete and should work. The new fluidic Verna has been received well in our market, and the i20 is due for a face-lift. The Eon is just around the corner. So will Hyundai risk bringing in their subsidiary brand that might potentially affect the sales of Hyundai cars? I'm not sure. If VW-Skoda can have an understanding, I'm sure Hyundai can toy with the idea of bringing in Kia. But it might just be too soon, right now. let Hyundai establish themselves completely. They still have several cars in the pipeline, and plenty of segments to fill.
	() Thanks

12th October 2011, 20:07	#68
gears2go BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 35 Thanked: Once	Re: Kia In India Kia may not enter the market as brand establishment is a real tough job. Moreover, Hyundai is already successful so why take a chance?
	() Thanks

19th March 2012, 03:01	#69
Zed BHPian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Germany Posts: 516 Thanked: 489 Times	Re: Kia Motors in India Some of the New KIAs are decent looking cars with good with fit and finish. The Rio, pro-ceed and sportage are good looking contemporary designs. While the fluidic design direction from Hyundai has lots of takers, I really do think that there are potential buyers in India that can identify with Kia's styling.
	() Thanks

19th March 2012, 10:32	#70
mi2n BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Kolkata Posts: 565 Thanked: 2,258 Times View My Garage	Re: Kia Motors in India Saw a huge butch KIA SUV (size of a T-Fort) a few days ago on E.M.Byepass (near Honda Showroom), Kolkata. Was not camouflaged, but bonnet and door handles were covered by white sheets. Bore a temporary plate with a non WB registration. I think it was destined for Nepal, Bhutan or Bangladesh, as i often see many Toyota and Hyundai vehicles(non-Indian models) being driven along Jessore Road destined for our neighbors. Sorry no pics.
	() Thanks

21st November 2014, 18:21	#75
lsp BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 380 Thanked: 188 Times	Re: Kia Motors in India Reviving an old thread to post some pictures of the Kia Soul I spotted on 31st Oct near Adhchini, Delhi. The car looked good in person. Couple of young guys riding in it. I couldn't pull upto them in the traffic to have a word. Any idea about the (temp) registration number?
	(6) Thanks