# Kia

> South Korean automobile manufacturer

**Wikidata**: [Q35349](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q35349)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kia

## Summary
Kia is a South Korean automobile manufacturer and public company headquartered in Seoul that designs and produces cars, commercial vehicles, and related vehicle systems. Founded in 1944, Kia operates as a business within the automotive industry and is connected to Hyundai Motor Group and multiple corporate and institutional owners.

## Key Facts
- Kia is a South Korean automobile manufacturer and a public company.
- Official inception (founding) date: 1944-12-11.
- Headquarters / located in: Seoul, South Korea.
- Industry classification: automobile manufacturer; part of the broader automotive industry.
- Corporate ownership / operators listed: Hyundai Motor Company; National Pension Service (public pension fund of South Korea); Chung Eui-sun (South Korean businessman); Hyundai Motor Group; Kia Motors Slovakia.
- Contains / Subsidiaries (related entry): Hyundai Motor Group.
- Affiliated with: Peter Schreyer (German automobile designer).
- Created / Developed by (example developments): Kia KLTV (military light utility vehicle); Kia Uvo (vehicle telematic system).
- Company aliases: KN; Kia Motors; Kia Motors Corporation (Seoul); Kyungsung Precision Industry; Kia motors; Kia Corp; Kia Corporation.
- Official websites: https://kia.com; https://www.kia.com/kr; https://kia.ca; https://www.kia.co.za/; https://members.kia.com/.
- Wikidata description: South Korean automobile manufacturer.
- Wikidata sitelink_count for Kia: 78.
- Related classifications present in source dataset: public company (company that offers its securities for sale to the general public); business (organization undertaking commercial, industrial, or professional activity).
- Related vehicle and product entries associated with Kia (see full list below in Body).

## FAQs
Q: What is Kia and where is it based?
A: Kia is a South Korean automobile manufacturer and public company headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.

Q: When was Kia founded?
A: Kia’s recorded inception date is 1944-12-11.

Q: Who owns or operates Kia?
A: The dataset lists Hyundai Motor Company, the National Pension Service, Chung Eui-sun, Hyundai Motor Group, and Kia Motors Slovakia among entities that own or operate Kia.

Q: What kinds of products does Kia produce?
A: Kia produces automobiles and commercial vehicles; the dataset associates many passenger car and commercial vehicle models with Kia including compact cars, SUVs, vans, trucks, and battery-electric models.

Q: What are Kia’s official websites and digital access points?
A: Kia’s websites in the provided data are https://kia.com, https://www.kia.com/kr, https://kia.ca, https://www.kia.co.za/, and https://members.kia.com/.

Q: Which notable people and organizations are connected to Kia?
A: The designer Peter Schreyer is listed as affiliated; Chung Eui-sun is listed among owners/operators; Kia is connected corporately with Hyundai Motor Company and Hyundai Motor Group.

Q: What special vehicle projects or systems has Kia developed?
A: Examples in the dataset include the Kia KLTV (a military light utility vehicle) and Kia Uvo (a vehicle telematic system).

## Why It Matters
Kia matters because it is a major commercial participant in the global automotive industry originating from South Korea. As a public company and established automobile manufacturer with an inception in 1944, Kia contributes to vehicle design, mass-market passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and emerging electric vehicle lines. Its corporate links to Hyundai Motor Company and Hyundai Motor Group position Kia within one of the largest automotive corporate networks, affecting production capacity, global supply chains, and vehicle platform sharing. Kia’s product range — spanning subcompact cars, compact cars, mid-size sedans, SUVs, electric vehicles, vans, and light trucks — addresses a broad set of transportation needs for private drivers, commercial operators, and institutional purchasers. The company’s multiple aliases and international websites reflect its global market presence. Affiliations with designers (Peter Schreyer) and development of vehicle systems (Kia Uvo) indicate influence on automotive design and vehicle telematics.

## Notable For
- Being a South Korean automobile manufacturer and public company founded in 1944.
- Operating from Seoul and being identified as part of the automotive industry with a broad model lineup.
- Corporate linkage with Hyundai Motor Company and Hyundai Motor Group, and having institutional stakeholders such as the National Pension Service.
- Affiliation with high-profile automotive designer Peter Schreyer.
- Development of specialized vehicles and systems, including the Kia KLTV military light utility vehicle and the Kia Uvo telematic system.
- Maintaining multiple international websites and aliases that reflect a global brand presence.

## Body

### Overview and Classification
- Kia is classified as an automobile manufacturer and a business.  
- It is also recorded as a public company, which in the source material is defined as a company that offers its securities for sale to the general public.  
- The Wikidata description succinctly identifies Kia as a "South Korean automobile manufacturer."  
- Recorded sitelink_count for Kia is 78 in the provided dataset.

### Founding and Location
- Official inception date listed: 1944-12-11.  
- Headquarters and origin are located in Seoul, the capital and largest city of South Korea.  
- Country of origin: South Korea.

### Corporate Ownership and Structure
- Entities listed as owning or operating Kia:
  - Hyundai Motor Company (South Korean multinational automaker; inception provided as 1967-12-29).  
  - National Pension Service (public pension fund of South Korea; inception entries include +1988 and 1987-09-18).  
  - Chung Eui-sun (named as a South Korean businessman).  
  - Hyundai Motor Group (car manufacturer headquartered in Seoul; inception listed +2000-09).  
  - Kia Motors Slovakia (automobile manufacturer; inception 2004-02-13; listed twice in the source).
- The "Contains / Subsidiaries" group in the provided material lists Hyundai Motor Group as related to Kia.

### Affiliations and Key People
- Peter Schreyer, a German automobile designer, is listed as affiliated with Kia.  
- Chung Eui-sun is named among owners/operators, indicating a person-level corporate connection.

### Products, Models, and Vehicle Projects
The dataset lists an extensive set of Kia-branded vehicle models and related vehicle entries. Below are the models and vehicle-related items referenced:

Passenger cars, crossovers, and SUVs:
- Kia Cee'd
- Kia Rio (Subcompact car)
- Kia Forte (compact car)
- Kia Cerato
- Kia Optima / K5
- Kia K3 (2023) — subcompact for emerging markets
- Kia K4 (2024) — compact car
- Kia K4 — compact car
- Kia K7 (Cadenza) — mid-size sedan
- Kia K8 — Full-size car
- Kia K9 — car model
- Kia K5 — car model by Kia
- Kia KX3 — subcompact crossover
- Kia Niro — hybrid compact crossover
- Kia Niro EV — electric car model series
- Kia Niro EV (series)
- Kia EV3 — car model
- Kia EV4 — battery electric car
- Kia EV5 — electric SUV
- Kia EV9 — fullsize electric crossover SUV
- Kia Stinger — mid-size liftback
- Kia XCeed — car model
- Kia Seltos — subcompact crossover
- Kia Soul EV — electric car model
- Kia Sportage — compact SUV
- Kia Sorento — mid-size SUV
- Kia Mohave — mid-size SUV
- Kia Stonic — car model
- Kia Ray — car model and a separate 2010 concept car
- Kia K3 (alias usage noted)
- Kia K4 (multiple entries)
- Kia Syros — subcompact crossover SUV
- Kia Syros appears as a related model entry.

MPVs, Vans, and People Movers:
- Kia Carens — compact MPV
- Kia Carnival — car model (People mover / MPV)
- Kia Besta — van produced by Kia
- Kia Combi — motor vehicle
- Kia Granbird — motor vehicle (coach/bus)
- Kia Pregio — car model
- Kia Enterprise — car model
- Kia Retona — car model
- Kia Bongo — car model
- Kia Pride — car model
- Kia Concord — four-door sedan
- Kia Avella — compact car model
- Kia Spectra — car model
- Kia Opirus — car model
- Kia Pride — car model (listed)
- Kia Shuma — car model
- Kia Potentia — car model
- Kia Elan — convertible sports car (entry listed as Kia' convertivle sports car)

Commercial, Utility, and Military Vehicles:
- Kia KM450 — 1-1/4-ton cargo truck
- KM131 Jeep — motor vehicle
- Asia KM410-series — ¼ ton truck
- Kia KLTV — type of military light utility vehicle (also listed under Created/Developed by)
- Kia Tasman — mid-size pick-up truck
- Kia KLTV listed again as a development entry.

Concepts, Variants, and Other Named Models:
- Kia Sephia
- Kia Forte (compact car made by Kia Motors)
- Kia Spectra
- Kia KX3
- Kia K9
- Kia K4 (2024) & Kia K4 (compact car)
- Kia K3 (2023)
- Kia K8, Kia K5, Kia K7 (Cadenza)
- Kia Stinger
- Kia Ev3/EV4/EV5/EV9 and other EV entries
- Kia PV5 — battery electric van
- Kia Ray (2010 concept car entry in addition to production model)
- Kia Niro EV and Kia Soul EV entries

Vehicle Systems and Technology:
- Kia Uvo — vehicle telematic system (listed under Created / Developed by).

### Related Organizations, Events, and Entities
The provided relations include sports clubs, competitions, and third-party organizations that are associated in the dataset with the Kia name or related entries:

Sports teams, competitions, and events:
- Vitória F.C. — association football club in Setúbal, Portugal (inception +1910).
- B-SAD — association football team from Lisbon, Portugal (inception +2018-07-01).
- UEFA Euro 2016 — 15th European association football championship.
- UEFA Conference League — annual football international club competition in Europe (inception +2021).
- 2007 Barcelona KIA — tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts.
- 2008 Barcelona KIA — tennis tournament edition.
- League of Legends EMEA Championship — professional League of Legends esports league (inception +2013).
- Dplus Kia — South Korean esports organization (inception +2017-05-28).
- Algeria men's national football team — national team entry present in related list.

Venues and commercial properties:
- Kia Center — indoor arena in Downtown Orlando, Florida, United States (inception +2010-10-01).

Other related vehicle-related organizations:
- Kia Motors Slovakia — automobile manufacturer (inception +2004-02-13; country Slovakia; headquarters ; employees: 3600; industry ). Note: listed twice in the provided ownership/operation section.

### Geographic and Political Context
- Kia is based in Seoul. The dataset includes background details for Seoul: inception 1395-06-06, and historic references including Korea under Japanese rule qualifiers in some location entries.  
- Country association: South Korea (noted as a country in East Asia; inception 1948-08-15 is provided for South Korea in the related location data).

### Corporate and Industry Relationships
- Hyundai Motor Company: listed as an owner/operator and is itself a South Korean multinational automaker with inception 1967-12-29 and headquarters referenced.  
- Hyundai Motor Group: listed both as owner/operator and as a related/subsidiary entity in different sections of the provided material, with inception +2000-09 and headquarters in Seoul.  
- National Pension Service: appears as a stakeholder; it is the public pension fund of South Korea with inception details in the dataset.  
- Chung Eui-sun: listed as a person-level corporate actor connected to Kia.

### Digital Presence and Aliases
- Aliases for the company include KN; Kia Motors; Kia Motors Corporation (Seoul); Kyungsung Precision Industry; Kia motors; Kia Corp; Kia Corporation.  
- Websites explicitly provided: https://kia.com; https://www.kia.com/kr; https://kia.ca; https://www.kia.co.za/; https://members.kia.com/.

### Development Projects and Technical Outputs
- Kia KLTV: listed as a type of military light utility vehicle and appears under both the product/model lists and created/developed-by lists.  
- Kia Uvo: vehicle telematic system, listed under created/developed-by.

### Notable Datasets and Counts
- The provided sitelink_count for Kia in the dataset is 78.  
- Numerous related model entries and events are enumerated across the dataset; those are listed above in the Products and Related Entities sections.

### References Present in Source Material
- The source material includes inception and reference qualifiers for several location entries (e.g., Seoul with 1395-06-06 and references). These are preserved in the dataset entries that link Kia to its geographic and corporate context.

### Additional Notes on Dataset Structure
- Many related items in the dataset reference specific model names, competitions, or organizations that use the Kia name or are linked to Kia in various contexts; the provided data lists those related entries without always specifying the exact nature of the relationship (e.g., sponsorship, naming rights, manufacturing). Where the provided material uses a category label (Related / Located in / Owned by / Contains), those labels have been preserved in this entry.

(End of entry)

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://worldwide.kia.com/int/company/ir/info/company)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](http://www.kia.com)
6. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
7. GRID Release 2016-12-06
8. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
9. [KIA - Challenge The Luxury You Know](https://old.reddit.com/r/kia/)
10. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
11. Name Suggestion Index
12. KBpedia