Who Owns Kia?
In 1998, Hyundai Motor Company purchased a 51% stake in Kia, giving it ownership over the acclaimed South Korean automaker.
When Kia was founded in 1944, it wasn’t known for its cars—rather, it was a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycles! Throughout the 60s and 70s, Kia transitioned to motorcycles, trucks, and cars. Today, it’s safe to say that Kia has ironed out all the kinks. From the imposing
Kia Telluride
to the sleek and speedy Kia Stinger
, Kia models are some of the most stylish on the streets.Want to know how Kia became a top-tier car brand? You’ve come to the right place! We're here to break down the history and ownership of South Korea’s stellar automaker.
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Who owns Kia?
In 1998, Hyundai Motor Company out-bid
Ford
to gain a controlling share of Kia. Though Hyundai originally bought a 51% stake in the company, that percentage has dropped to about 33% as Kia has gained a handful of new investors.Though Hyundai is smaller than companies like
Volkswagen
and Toyota
, it still earns a spot as one of the ten largest automaker manufacturers in the world. In 2021 alone, Hyundai sold nearly 4 million cars worldwide!What other makes does Hyundai own?
Kia is Hyundai’s largest asset—but the South Korean giant didn’t stop with its investment in Kia.
Hyundai Motor Company also owns Ioniq, a car brand that boasts incredible hybrid powertrains, and
Genesis
, a luxury automaker that has enjoyed increasing popularity in the USA. On top of their investments in vehicles, Hyundai has expanded into other areas, like:- Steel production (Hyundai Steel, Hyundai BNG Steel)
- Auto parts (Hyundai Mobis, IHL, Wia, and more)
- Construction (Hyundai Engineering and Construction)
- Railroad and defense vehicles (Hyundai Rotem and Wia)
- Information technology (Hyundai AutoEver)
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Even though Hyundai is involved in virtually every business sector, Kia is its prized investment, generating over $60 billion in revenue in 2021.
Where are Kias made?
Kia’s headquarters might be in Seoul, but it has manufacturing plants all over the world! On top of its four manufacturing facilities in South Korea, Kia has factories in each of these countries:
- China—the Yancheng Plant
- India—the Anantapur Plant
- Mexico—the Monterrey Plant
- Pakistan—Kia Lucky Motors
- Slovakia—the Zilina Plant
- United States—the Georgia Plant
- Uzbekistan—ADM Jizzakh
- Vietnam—the Chu Lai Plant
Key Takeaway Kia is headquartered in Seoul, but it has manufacturing plants in countries like China, India, Pakistan, and the United States.
A short history of Kia ownership
You’d never know by looking at its sporty lineup of cars that Kia actually started in 1944 as a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycle parts. Originally, Kia went by the name Kyungsung Precision Industry.
It wasn’t until 1952, after Kia built Korea’s first bicycle, that the company’s name was officially changed to Kia Industries. Over the next 30 years, Kia broke into the motorcycle, truck, and car markets, before partnering with Ford to sell more vehicles in 1986 (eventually joining the American car market in 1992).
Ten years later, in 1997, the Asian financial crisis struck, and Kia was forced to declare bankruptcy. Though Ford attempted to buy a controlling share of Kia, it was outpaced by Hyundai, which purchased a 51% stake in Kia in 1998.
Over the next two decades, Kia continued to flourish in the American market. Inspired by its success in the USA, the company invested $1 billion to create a manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia.
Since then, the brand has gained awards and acclaim in the USA, and even some international fame—especially when
Pope Francis visited Seoul
and Abu Dhabi
in an affordable Kia Soul
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