USAA Names Kia Sportage To 2012 Best Value List

Being a younger sibling myself, I know the feeling of sometimes being overshadowed by an older sibling.  In the overall Hyundai Corporation, which includes both Hyundai Motors and Kia Motors, it is Hyundai (especially the Elantra) that has been accumulating accolades and awards left and right.  But little sister Kia is catching up and making a name for herself as well.

2012 Kia Sportage

The United Services Automobile Association (USAA) came out with their second annual "Best Value" vehicles list, which identifies the top 2012 automobiles in 16 categories that give consumers the most bang for their buck.  The Kia Sportage was crowned "Best Value" in the small SUV category for the second consecutive year, recognized for offering a competitive price and low insurance costs as well as being one of the Small SUV Top Safety Picks for 2012 from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

"The goal of the list is to help members identify vehicles that typically offer better safety ratings, lower insurance premium costs, higher fuel economy, better overall reliability and lower MSRP compared to other vehicles in the same category," said Steve Thompson, an assistant vice president at USAA.  "The Kia Sportage rose to the top as a vehicle that offers these key elements, making it a great buy for the value-minded consumer."

In addition to the "Best Value" list, the USAA also compiled a Top Ten for Teens list. The USAA commissioned a survey of parents asking what they value most in a car for their teenage children.  The top three parental considerations are reliability (81%), safety (73%), and affordable auto insurance (62%).  Another Kia model, the Kia Forte, ranks as one of their top ten cars based on these factors.

These new titles of high value are just some of the latest positive press Kia Motors is garnering.  Kia Motors America (KMA) has seen 20 consecutive months of year-over-year sales growth, and has been saluted by NADAguides, a leading provider of vehicle pricing and information, by having three of its vehicles - Rio 5-Door SX, Forte SX and Soul + - named to the publication's "Most Versatile 2012 New Cars Under $20K" list. Kia placed more vehicles than any other automaker on the top ten list.

"Having three of our vehicles named to NADAguides' 'Most Versatile 2012 New Cars Under $20K' list validates how far our brand has come in terms of quality, packaging and features development in such a short period of time," said Orth Hedrick, director of product planning, KMA. "With the presence and eye-catching style of Rio, Forte and Soul, Kia's complete vehicle line is comprised of a wide breadth of capable offerings at very affordable price points."

2012 Kia Sorento Named to "10 Best Family Cars of 2012" List By Kelley Blue Book's Kbb.com

Kia's Popular CUV Receives Honor for Second Year in a Row

-- The brand's best-selling vehicle delivers safety, comfort and functionality for true family car appeal

-- Sorento's affordability and low cost of ownership make it an impressive overall value

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The award-winning Kia Sorento is again in the limelight, this time being named to Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com coveted "10 Best Family Cars of 2012" list. The ultra-popular CUV enjoys this accolade for a second year in a row. Lauded for its outstanding drivability, functionality, refinement and comfort, the Sorento has defined a number of milestones for Kia, including becoming the first model in the product line to surpass 100,000 sales in a single year as well as being Kia's first U.S.-built(1) vehicle at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) in West Point, Ga.

"Sorento's achievement of being recognized as one of the '10 Best Family Cars of 2012' by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com is a testament to its exceptional safety, comfort and feature content," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, Kia Motors America. "As Kia's best-selling vehicle, Sorento's low cost of ownership has resulted in strong consumer ratings, making it a favorite among family buyers."

Editors from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com evaluated vehicles based on several main criteria important to family car buyers, including safety, child-friendliness, comfort, economy of operation – which factors fuel consumption, insurance premiums and repair costs – and resale value. The kbb.com editors selected the vehicles that offer the best combination of these characteristics and the highest overall value for everyday families.

Kbb.com editors underscored the Sorento's available three row seating capacity and highway fuel economy of 32 miles-per-gallon(2). "Good fuel economy is only part of the story," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. "The Sorento starts under $24,000 and offers a voice-controlled infotainment system plus a great big panoramic moonroof."

For more information about kbb.com's "10 Best Family Cars of 2012," visit http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/10-best-family-cars-of-2012/.

Kia's Unprecedented Growth

Kia Motors is the one of the world's fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America's full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality(3) and the industry's highest brand loyalty ranking(4). Kia's U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia – KMMG – is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds the company's two best-selling vehicles in the U.S. – the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan(5). Kia's value and technology-laden 2012 model year lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, all-new Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 755 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." In 2011, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and became one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.

Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)

Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the industry. Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website www.kbb.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In and Retail Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new cars this week. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies as well as governmental agencies. Kbb.com provides consumer pricing and information on minivans, pickup trucks, sedan, hybrids, electric cars, and SUVs. Kelley Blue Book Co. Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AutoTrader.com.

(1) Assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts (2) EPA fuel economy estimates 22 mpg/city and 32 mpg/highway for 2012 Sorento 2WD with optional 2.4L GDI engine. Actual mileage will vary. (3) Source: Automotive Lease Guide Spring 2011 Perceived Quality Study (4) Source: Experian Automotive Q2 2011 market analysis (5) Optima Hybrid is not built at KMMG

Kia Motors Unveils Advanced Infotainment System Powered by Microsoft®

# Kia UVO, short for "Your Voice," features a breakthrough user interface that provides simple and quick access to your vehicle's multimedia and infotainment systems
# UVO is the first in-vehicle solution to integrate full Microsoft® intelligent speech engine technology

IRVINE, Calif., January 5, 2010 – Kia Motors America (KMA) today unveiled an innovative and intelligent in-car communications and entertainment system, "UVO powered by Microsoft®," to be available in select Kia vehicles starting this summer. UVO provides consumer friendly voice- and touch-activated experiences for simple management of music files and hands-free mobile phone operation. Co-developed with Microsoft and based on Windows Embedded Auto software, UVO is an easy-to-use, hands-free solution that allows drivers and passengers to answer and place phone calls, receive and respond to SMS text messages, access music from a variety of media sources and create custom music experiences.

Understanding drivers want and need intuitive controls, Kia Motors and Microsoft® designed UVO to enable a new level of voice recognition through Microsoft® speech technology. UVO users will be able to access media content and connect with people through simple, quick voice commands without having to navigate through menus. By supporting complex grammar, UVO needs only short voice commands to connect drivers and passengers with their desired functions. An interactive system, UVO responds to inquiries such as "What's playing?" and provides audible answers and related functions, helping to keep drivers' eyes safely focused on the road ahead of them.

UVO also brings advancements to in-car technology through an immersive user experience. The interface features a 4.3-inch, full-color display that provides detailed information on media content, phonebook data and vehicle information, and the screen also doubles as a rear-view camera when the shifter is put in reverse. UVO is an open platform that seamlessly integrates with a wide variety of mobile phones, music players and other devices, making it easy for drivers to quickly pair devices.

"UVO powered by Microsoft® is a breakthrough for in-vehicle infotainment that helps allow drivers and passengers to safely and easily use all of their personal technologies to create personalized in-vehicle communications and entertainment experiences," says Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing, KMA. "Collaborating with Microsoft, Kia Motors is able to offer drivers an experience that will provide our cars with a clear competitive advantage."

"We are very excited with the customized approach Kia Motors is bringing to in-car infotainment," says Kevin Dallas, General Manager of Microsoft's Windows Embedded Business division. "Kia's UVO system demonstrates how the power of Windows Embedded technology can keep consumers connected to the devices, information and entertainment that matters to them most."

Based on the award-winning Windows Embedded Auto platform, UVO can be updated easily as new consumer devices continue to be introduced to the market.

UVO will debut this summer in the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento CUV and will be extended to additional Kia vehicles as part of the brand's technological evolution. Kia Sorento, Soul, Forte and Forte KOUP already come standard and at no extra cost with Bluetooth® wireless technology connectivity, iPod®/MP3/USB connectivity, and a three-month SIRIUS® satellite radio subscription.

UVO will be shown for the first time at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, January 7-10, in both the Kia Motors and Microsoft booths and representatives from both companies will be on-hand for demonstrations.

Key Features of UVO, powered by Microsoft:

# Advanced Speech Recognition: Intelligent Microsoft® speech technology is trained to the system operator's voice, creating a personal profile and allowing for up to two different voice profiles in various languages. Support for large grammar commands and faster response time means the content is delivered when you ask for it. Kia Motors' UVO system is the first in-vehicle solution to integrate full Microsoft® speech engine technology.
# Natural Interface Advancements: A full-color, easy-to-use in-dash monitor allows occupants to quickly scroll through media and mobile device content through intuitive voice and touch-screen commands.
# Custom Media Experiences with MyMusic: UVO's "Jukebox" function features a 1GB hard drive for media storage, allowing users to rip music from CDs or an MP3 player into personal MyMusic folders and store up to 250 songs sorted by title and/or artist – all through voice commands. The system can shuffle through an MP3 player or AM/FM and SIRIUS® radio stations and instantly identify what's playing all through simple voice commands.
# Rear Backup Camera: When the vehicle is put in reverse, a built-in rear backup camera uses UVO's in-dash display to provide clearer images of the environment behind the car assisting the driver to identify certain objects that otherwise may be difficult to see.
# Ability to Continuously Update Features and Services: Based on a flexible Windows Embedded Auto platform, updates and services can be delivered in a number of ways (over-the-air, over-the-Web) for Kia to continue to provide a superior user experience after the system enters the market.

Kia Motors is in the midst of a dramatic, design-led transformation, which has been delivering dynamically styled vehicles in several important segments at exactly the right time contributing to the brand's continued gains in U.S. market share. The launch of the all-new 2011 Sorento CUV, the official vehicle of the NBA and the first vehicle to be built at Kia Motors' first U.S.-based manufacturing facilities in West Point, Georgia, will further enhance the Kia lineup.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 670 dealers throughout the United States. For 2009, KMA recorded its 15th consecutive year of increased U.S. market share and recently achieved its best quarter of sales ever. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc

Our Company

On March 13, 2006, KIA Motors America (KMA), KIA's sales and marketing company in U.S.A , and the State of Georgia executed the Site Acquisition and Development Agreement, which announced plans to construct a $1 billion automotive assembly and manufacturing plant on 2,259 acres of land in West Point, Ga., the first plant for Kia in North America.

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) was officially incorporated on Oct. 10, 2006 and 10 days later the groundbreaking for the facility was held on Oct. 20.

"We take pride in how far we've come, creating a foothold in the American market, including our first U.S. manufacturing plant -- Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia -- currently under construction in West Point, Georgia," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of Kia Motors America and KMMG. "The state-of-the-art plant will begin producing new Kia vehicles in fall 2009, and at full capacity it will have the capability to manufacture 300,000 vehicles annually. This project is the largest in history for the State of Georgia and is already having a positive impact on the economy. When the plant goes online KMMG will have created 2,500 jobs for which we have already received more than 43,000 applications; additionally, as many as another 6,000 jobs will be created by various plant suppliers."

The 43,000+ applications were received in just 30 days, a number that set new automotive benchmarks for both the quantity of applicants during the allotted timeframe and because they were all received online.

"The numbers are truly remarkable," says Randy Jackson, director of human resources and administration for KMMG. "These applicants are educated and experienced, truly demonstrating the quality of Georgia's workforce. Georgia and its neighboring states have a prepared, educated and experienced workforce ready to build the future."

Currently, KMMG is in the process of hiring salaried and operating team members who will be building Kia's next generation Sorento. Kia is searching for team members who will help reinforce its commitment to sell innovative, high-quality vehicles at affordable prices when production begins in November of 2009.

Construction at the plant is expected to be finished early in 2009. Test vehicles are scheduled to begin production in March of that same year. During the testing phase, vehicles will be examined for quality prior to mass production later in the year.

Kia Motors America and AutoTrader.com Partner tp Showcase New Vehicle Classifieds

New Vehicle Dealer Inventory Available on Largest Online Classified Automotive Web Site

# Partnership expected to assist in increased vehicle and dealer inquiries by consumers
# Information on all new Kia vehicles will be easily accessible

IRVINE, Calif., October 22, 2008 - Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced it is teaming up with AutoTrader.com, the nation's leading online classified automotive Web site, to add Kia dealers' new vehicle inventory to the classified listings on the site. Among the first manufacturers to provide this new car feed, the nearly 15 million unique visitors on AutoTrader.com will have access to all new vehicle inventories of Kia dealers nationwide.

"As one of the first manufacturers to provide this kind of information online, this new partnership with AutoTrader.com demonstrates the already-strong online marketing presence Kia Motors maintains and is another step toward providing consumers with access to the most current Kia vehicles on the market today," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA. "With an extensive and ever-expanding line-up we are able to provide a wide array of Kia vehicles to ensure buyers have a broad selection when seeking a new vehicle."

Each listing, automatically uploaded, will include one stock photo, a thumbnail of that photo, a contact link and phone number and links to the new cars listing page for that dealer. Adding these classified listings has shown to increase dealer inquiries through a higher number of consumer e-mails, map and phone inquiries and quotes.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2007, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of record U.S. sales. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Kia Motors America is the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site -- www.kia.com.