- Anniversary ceremony held at Kia Vision Square to commemorate significant milestone, attended by 400 guests
- Commemorative exhibition tells Kia brand’s story across eight display spaces featuring 17 vehicles
- Kia’s heritage of challenge and determination continues to drive brand’s future vision
Kia Corporation is celebrating the brand’s 80th anniversary today, holding a special ceremony to mark the occasion and opening a new exhibition at Kia Vision Square in Yongin, Korea.
The event highlighted Kia’s 80-year journey, evolving into a global leader in sustainable mobility through contributions from Kia employees past and present, and gave insight into Kia’s philosophy and future vision.
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, Kia President & CEO Ho Sung Song, and other members of the Kia senior executive leadership team attended the event, joined by approximately 400 guests.
Euisun Chung, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair, commented:
“Kia’s 80-year history has been a remarkable journey, an epic narrative. On behalf of Hyundai Motor Group, I extend my gratitude to everyone who has been part of Kia’s 80-year legacy.”
Ho Sung Song, Kia President and CEO, said:
“Drawing on the lessons learned from compiling Kia’s 80-year history, we will reaffirm the spirit of determination that has driven us since our founding. At the same time, we are committed to preserving and sharing our heritage, including intangible assets, as a driving force for the future.”
How is Kia celebrating its 80th anniversary?
Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) and Kia executives, employees, and former executives joined guests to highlight Kia’s 80-year heritage and present its future vision, inspired by the brand’s legacy – a true history of challenge and determination.
Guests heard from Kia employees as representatives of those who will play a key role in delivering Kia’s vision as future leaders. They also enjoyed a special celebratory film, featuring those who played significant roles in Kia’s achievements, and a solo performance by Kia Ambassador and multi-award-winning violinist, Clara-Jumi Kang.
Kia also unveiled the Vision Meta Turismo concept car, which embodies Kia’s vision for a new era of mobility. The concept combines dynamic driving performance with a lounge-inspired interior, paying homage to the speed and elegance of 1960s long-distance touring.
What are the key features of the Kia Vision Meta Turismo concept car?
The Vision Meta Turismo is a modern reinterpretation of three core experiences:
- Performance driving
- Immersive driving experience through digital interaction
- Spaciousness of the lounge space
Its exterior reflects the Kia design philosophy ‘Opposites United’, featuring a futuristic silhouette that blends soft surfaces with geometric elements. Inside, the design enhances human-mobility interaction through digital technology and creates a highly immersive experience for both drivers and passengers, with unique design elements and a spacious layout.
A highlight is the Vision Meta Turismo’s steering wheel, which reimagines the next-generation intuitive driving interface. It offers a more immersive driving experience with three digital modes – Speedster, Dreamer, and Gamer – utilizing AR Head-Up Display (HUD) technology to deliver tailored user experiences for different driving environments. The AR HUD integrates smart glass into the vehicle, enabling drivers to view virtual graphics as if they are floating above the road in three dimensions.
Kia will unveil full information on the concept in the near future.
Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design, commented:
“The Vision Meta Turismo embodies Kia’s vision that integrates dynamic mobility and human-centered spaces. It is an expression of Kia’s commitment to continually bring technologically advanced mobility and experiences that engage, stimulate, and inspire.”
What’s on display at Kia’s 80th Anniversary Exhibition?
Kia’s 80th Anniversary Exhibition, held under the theme ‘The Legacy of Movement,’ is an immersive heritage experience that showcases vehicles ranging from historical models to the very latest products. Located on the first floor of Kia Vision Square – Kia’s employee training and strategy institute – in Yongin, Korea, the exhibition will be open to visitors until 2029.
The exhibition features eight Legacy display zones, each exploring themes and spotlighting vehicles from Kia’s first 80 years of manufacturing:
- Wheel – Covers Kia’s inception and the vision of its founder, Kim Cheol-ho, featuring the 3000-Liho bicycle, the K-360 (a three-wheeled commercial vehicle), and the Kia Brisa passenger car
- Evolution – Highlights Kia’s customer-centric DNA, featuring the Kia Bongo (a light commercial vehicle truck), and the all-new PV5, Kia’s first PBV
- People – Spotlights Kia’s global quality management, leadership stories and long-running flagship models, featuring the Kia Sportage, and the Kia Carnival
- New Road – Tells the story of Kia’s global expansion with localized production and sales strategies, featuring the Kia Ceed, Cerato R, Sonet, and Telluride
- Identity – Documents the history of the brand’s global ascent, featuring the iconic Kia Pride, Soul, and Stinger models
- Progress – Outlines Kia’s development in the modern era, featuring its advanced technology, progress, and global sustainability solutions, highlighted by the Kia EV6 GT
- Inspiration – Positions Kia as a cultural icon, featuring the Kia Soul crossover
- Movement Archive – Chronicles Kia’s evolution through 100 models in line with the brand’s philosophy of ‘Movement that Inspires’
What are the key miles stones in Kia’s 80-Year Journey?
Kia was founded in 1944 as Kyungsung Precision Industry by Kim Cheol-ho. The company adopted the Kia name in 1952 and introduced its first mobility product, the 3000-Liho bicycle. In 1973, Kia established the Sohari Plant (now AutoLand Gwangmyeong), Korea’s first integrated automotive production facility.
In 1974, Kia introduced its first four-wheeled vehicle, the Kia Brisa, going on to achieve global success with models such as the Kia Pride subcompact car, launched in 1987, and the Kia Sportage, the world’s first urban SUV, in 1993.
In 1997, Kia was acquired by Hyundai Motor Group under the visionary leadership of Founding Chairman Ju-yung Chung and Honorary Chairman Mong-Koo Chung. Appointed President of Kia in 2005, Euisun Chung implemented a comprehensive Design Management strategy and hired global design leaders – including Peter Schreyer as Chief Design Officer – to define Kia as a design-driven brand.
Kia revitalized its brand strategy in 2021 under its ‘Total Transformation’ approach, offering sustainable mobility solutions in the form of electric vehicles, followed by Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) models and software-based services.
How is Kia linking its heritage activities to the brand’s future vision?
Kia is leveraging its 80-year heritage with a range of creative global campaigns to highlight the brand’s future vision:
- Kia 80th Anniversary × Artist Oyow – A collaboration with renowned illustrator Oyow, who created the commemorative artwork for Kia’s 80th anniversary
- Kia 80 Years – A 430-page publication that chronicles Kia’s 80-year journey from its foundation to its rise as a global mobility brand; this is the first historical volume Kia has published since the company joined Hyundai Motor Group
- The Portraits of Kia – A four-episode video series telling Kia’s heritage story through four contrasting personas: Founder, Foreign Correspondent, Sports Fan, and Honorary Chairman Mong-Koo Chung
- Movement Archive – An online heritage platform highlighting Kia’s 80-year history and heritage, stories, and iconic vehicles
