Did you know Kia started out manufacturing bikes instead of cars? In 1944, Kyungsung Precision Industry was established with a simple logo that has certainly evolved alongside the design of one of the largest car manufacturers in the world.

Vehicles were a revolutionary innovation by the turn of the 20th-century that transformed transportation forever. And a powerful logo can tell you more about the history of a car brand than you may realize. Today’s distinctive Kia logo is now one of the most widely known emblems in the world—but it’s changed drastically over the decades and is completely redesigned on newer vehicles like the 2023

Kia Seltos

In this article, we’ll look at how the Kia logo progressed over the years, what’s behind the design, and how you can save money with the best car insurance for your fly ride.

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History of the Kia logo

Kim Chul Ho founded Kyungsung Precision Industry in 1944, a small bicycle manufacturing factory in Seoul, South Korea. Their first monochrome logo—meant for bicycles—consists of three diamond shapes that form a triangle when combined with a bike gear and the company name placed in the center. Unfortunately, it is unclear who designed the first Kia logo.

By the 1960s, Kyungsung Precision Industry turned into KIA Industrial Company and began manufacturing licensed cars. The company used the same black and white bike logo until the design was revamped in 1964. Since then, the logo has completely transformed from the original logo to the iconic futuristic Kia logo we all recognize today.

Kia logo changes through time

Six noteworthy updates have been made to the Kia logo from 1944 until today. Here’s how the Kia logo has progressed throughout car history.

1944: The original logo was meant to go on bicycles. It was a monochrome design with three diamond shapes and a bike gear and the company name in the center.

1964: Once the company transformed into Kia and began manufacturing vehicles, a new logo was a must! The new logo was a green circle with a green diagonal line coming out of the top. It almost resembles an upside-down Q.

1986: The Kia logo once again underwent a huge revision. Kia was written out in thick bold letters in a dark purple color. A curvy blue line, replacing the top part of the “K” in Kia, stretches out over the rest of the logo.

1994: By the 1990s, the Kia logo transformed once again and serves as the base for the current logo today. They added an oval around the company name with red and white becoming the colors of choice for the car manufacturer.

2012: They took the previous logo from 1994 and refined it. The lines became bolder and the colors even brighter.

2020 to present: Welcome to the 21st century! The new Kia logo is minimal, as all three letters connect with the “K” merging into the top “I” as it swoops down to go right into the letter “A.” The company dropped the oval in favor of a simpler design.

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What’s behind the Kia logo design?

The first black and white Kia logo was meant to demonstrate authority and professionalism. But the new Kia logo takes a different approach. Three key elements influenced the logo’s design, including:

The emblem: Instead of using the red and white logo, Kia has opted to use a silver metal emblem when placed on vehicles, giving it a more sleek and vivid appearance.

The font: The newest font is a light sans serif, giving the new Kia vehicles an ultra minimalistic look.

The color: Kia’s historic logo started black and white but evolved into a red and white palette. Red is meant to symbolize the company’s energy and passion, while white represents loyalty and purity.

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