Kia is South Korea’s 2nd largest auto manufacturer and a subsidiary of
Hyundai Kia Automotive. The company also manufactures equipment and vehicles for the South Korean military. The name Kia comes from the Sino-Korean words Ki and a, which mean “to come out” and “Asia” respectively. Originally founded in 1944, Kia initially built steel tubing and bicycles before moving on to automobiles. Kia began its operations in the United States in 1992 selling cars from dealerships in Portland, Oregon.
During the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, Kia was acquired by rival
Hyundai in a bidding war that also involved
Ford Motor Company.
