Kia readies Rondo for U.S. lineup April 13, 2006
Korean automaker Kia is taking aim at the Mazda5 with a new small wagon. The Kia will be called the Rondo when it goes on sale in the United States and Canada in 2007 as a 2008 model. Read more
Kia picks Georgia as site for first U.S. plant March 13, 2006
Kia Motors Corp. will build its first U.S. assembly plant in West Point, Ga. The factory is expected to produce 300,000 vehicles per year at maximum capacity, Kia said on Monday. Read more
Lexus.com: It’s speedy and friendly February 20, 2006
Lexus has the most user-friendly Web site for new-vehicle shopping among auto manufacturers, according to the latest survey of automaker Web sites by J.D. Power and Associates.
Pontiac and Suzuki tied for second.
Lexus.com “scores at the top by upsetting the fewest shoppers,” said Dennis Galbraith, senior director of digital marketing for J.D. Power, of Westlake Village, Calif.
Power released its results this month. They were based on evaluations by 11,800 shoppers who indicated they would be in the market for a new vehicle within 24 months. Many manufacturers subscribe to a detailed version of the study and say that it helps them …
Hyundai, Kia aim directly at Europe’s big brands
If they haven’t heard the warning already, Europe’s traditional carmakers will receive a wake-up call at the Geneva auto show.
Hyundai and Kia will unveil ambitious plans to target Europe’s volume brands at the show.
- Hyundai likely will announce the location of its new 300,000-unit assembly plant in the Czech Republic.
- Kia will unveil a design teaser close to its future Slovak-built car.
- A Hyundai concept car will show its European design direction.
Within four years, the two carmakers will have European factories capable of building 600,000 lower-medium cars annually – including Slovak-made engines – a potentially huge challenge to Europe’s traditional volume brands, analysts …