Kia

Kia Motors Corporation, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, is partially owned by its domestic rival, Hyundai Motor Company. The two automakers operate under a single corporate umbrella as the Hyundai Motor Group, sharing platforms, engine technologies, and electric vehicle architectures globally.

While Kia historically focused on affordability with gas-powered cars like the Rio, it officially entered the modern electric vehicle market in 2014 with the Soul EV. Today, the brand heavily emphasizes technology and design, utilizing the dedicated E-GMP platform for popular EVs like the Kia EV6 and EV9.

The name 'Kia' is derived from the Sino-Korean characters 'Ki' (to come out) and 'A' (which stands for Asia), roughly translating to 'rising out of Asia.' Founded initially as Kyungsung Precision Industry in 1944, the company rebranded to Kia Industries before becoming the global automobile manufacturer it is today.

In the United States, Kia is famous for its 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, which helped establish its reputation for reliability and value. This robust coverage was a major factor in the brand's transition from being known purely for cheap commuter cars to competing with global giants on technology and design.