Kia – global Automotive Manufacturer of the Year

Kia Motors has been named 'Automotive Manufacturer of the Year 2007’ by The Institute of Transport Management (ITM) in its recent report into global manufacturing processes and companies operating within the industry.

Over recent years, Kia Motors has made considerable progress in its efforts to promote sustainable development within the industry and these efforts have now been recognised.

The ITM report was designed to examine the companies within the transport industry taking strides to minimise the negative factors associated with it. Kia has, since outlining its programme for a new system of management – focused on the global environment – been committed to stepping up its efforts to tackle such problems.

Kia are keenly involved in the development of the next-generation of cars powered by hybrid-engines and fuel cells and batteries, and are set to expand the use of recyclable parts and materials for its models. Similarly Kia has implemented advanced technological solutions to minimise energy and water consumption, emissions and waste in manufacturing plants. On the product side, major achievements include reduced fuel consumption and widespread use of catalytic converters – leading to a reduction of exhaust emissions.

These issues are, according to Mr. Byung-Kwang Jang, President of Kia Motors (UK) Ltd, very important and in response to this recognition of Kia by the ITM he said: “From the outset, we at Kia have been making cars with the driver in mind. The consumer has responded by placing Kia Motors in the enviable position as one of the fastest growing car companies in the world. This award is recognition of our Company’s ongoing commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.
“While the automotive industry continues to place great importance on new creative concepts in product design and development we at Kia have responded by developing an exciting range of vehicles from the Picanto to the extremely popular Sorrento SUV. As a result the Kia brand is rapidly gaining a world-class reputation and we can now count ourselves as one of the top automotive producers in the world; selling more than one million cars per year,” he added.

In addition, Patrick Sheedy, Media and PR Director for the ITM, said: “It is very gratifying to now have names like Kia becoming household within the industry. For far too long the automotive manufacturing sector has been stereotyped by the more familiar brand names. This award will further enhance their reputation as one of the industry’s fastest growing manufacturers, and ensure that Kia Motors will continue to expand on a Global scale throughout 2007”.

The Institute is made up of individuals within the entire global transport field ranging from automobiles to aerospace and from administrators to chief executives and chairmen. It is international, although primarily focused on the UK where its heartland lies.