Before there was the Kia Soul or the Kia Forte, even way back before the Sportage took shape, our favorite automaker got its footing with a handful of two-wheeled vehicles. Yep. That's right. For those who don't know, the automaker didn't start out as a maker of autos at all. In 1944, Kia Motors Corporation was founded as a creator of steel tubing and bicycles parts.
Gradually, the ambitious company made its way from tubing and parts to actual bicycles, then on to motorcycles and trucks before settling into the passenger vehicle segment in 1991. Why is Tom Dolan's Reno Kia relaying all this rich history? Because we believe that to truly appreciate where the automaker and its new Kia vehicles are heading in the future, it's important to understand where they came from in the past.
What's more, we have a feeling you'll find some of the following Kia fun facts quite intriguing. Take a glance over our brief synopsis of Kia history and then stop by 9455 South Virginia St in Reno to learn more.
- 1951: Company is officially named "Kia Industries." The word Kia, loosely translated, means "to come out of Asia"
- 1962: The K-360 became the very first Kia vehicle to be built
- 1991: Kia makes initial plans to enter the United States market with the Sephia sedan and Sportage SUV
- 1993: Kia signs first 20 dealerships within our walls and the start of the Kia revolution in the U.S. begins
Flash forward to the present and our favorite automaker is currently selling a total of eleven models in our market and constantly growing.