Founded in 1944 as Kyungsung Precision Industry in Seoul by entrepreneur Kim Cheol-ho, Kia initially produced bicycle parts before manufacturing motorcycles and automotive components. The company began automobile production in 1974 with the Kia Brisa, before entering a joint venture with Ford in 1986 to produce the Pride. Kia’s modern renaissance under design chief Peter Schreyer—joining in 2006—introduced the iconic “Tiger Nose” grille and a cohesive product identity. Today’s lineup spans the Sportage and Sorento SUVs, the Optima/K5 sedan, and the all-electric EV6, which offers 800V charging and a range of 528 km WLTP. Kia sold over 3 million vehicles globally in 2023, ranking among the top five automakers by volume. Kia’s Kia Institute of Design (KIDS) drives global styling direction, with studios in Korea, Europe, and North America.