UANI

Kia is part of the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group.

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"Kia has a production agreement with Saipa, Iran's second-biggest car producer. Saipa currently manufactures the Kia Rio under license. Kia entered the Iranian car market in 1993 when it won a contract to set up an assembly plant." From 2000-2009, the company was the recipient of $706,745 US federal funds. Their business in Iran is currently active.  (The New York Times, "Profiting from Iran, and the US," 3/6/2010)

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"Saipa 141 with a 1323 cc three cylinders engine has been described as a popular car because of its low fuel consumption, good customer service as well as cheap auto parts. Saipa 141 is a car made by Iranian carmaker Saipa using the platform of the Kia Pride Car." (Press TV, "Saipa launches production line in Syria," 7/3/09)

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"Foreign car makers seeking volume are gambling their US businesses - and getting away with it by licensing models in Iran, the country's 70 million population too big to ignore as markets elsewhere mature. Kia of Korea is producing a version of the Pride with Saipa, Peugeot a take on its popular 405 model with both Saipa and Iran Khodro, and Renault has a $300 million investment with Saipa to produce the Logan and the Megane." (Sydney Morning Herald, "Iran’s car industry stuck in 1970s gear," 10/16/06)