UANI

Kia is part of the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group.

--

"South Korea's Kia Motors, whose Pride model is ubiquitous on Iranian roads, said Tuesday it had suspended exports to the Islamic state partly in response to Seoul's nuclear-related sanctions. 'South Korean government sanctions... were part of the decision,' Kia spokesman Michael Choo told AFP, declining to comment further. Kia's Pride, a small hatchback, accounts for 30-40 percent of all vehicles on Iran's roads, according to the company. The firm last year exported 4,210 complete vehicles to Iran and 17,040 cars in kit form for local assembly. Kia suspended all exports to Iran last month, including completed vehicles, kits and spare parts -- before South Korea's government announced its detailed measures but after it announced its intention to impose sanctions . . . Kia, with its larger partner Hyundai Motor, forms the world's fifth largest automaking group." (Google News, "South Korea's Kia halts exports to Iran," 9/13/10)

--

"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)

--

"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)

--

"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)