National Press Release

Company Reaches Milestones in 2008; Builds on Brand Momentum, New Products

- Pre-production Souls arrive at U.S. Kia retailers to ready consumers for a new kind of Kia

- Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) ramps up for on-target start of production

DETROIT, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Arriving at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Kia Motors America (KMA) realizes its 15th year of auto sales in North America, 14 consecutive years of increased market share and unveils to auto show attendees the Soul'ster, an open-air concept based on the Soul, and the Borrego Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle, initially showcased at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.

"Kia Motors is continuing to grow and expand in the U.S. despite current economic conditions" said B.M. Ahn, group president and CEO, KMA and KMMG. "With the upcoming launch of the Soul and other fuel-efficient vehicles, we will appeal to consumers looking for quality, value-laden vehicles with an industry-leading warranty."

KMA is poised to continue its momentum in 2009 with its expansive and dynamic product line and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value and safety and remains well positioned with the following milestones achieved in 2008:

    --  Sales:  U.S. automotive industry sales experienced a significant decline
        in 2008, though Kia achieved additional market share for a 14th
        consecutive year in the U.S.  KMA sales in 2008 were led by Rio, Optima
        and Rondo passenger cars, all posting more than 9-percent increases. 
        With rising consumer awareness, through emotion-stirring design as
        showcased in concept vehicles like the KOUP, Soul Burner, Kue,
        Soul'ster and KND-4, KMA's traction in the U.S. continues to
        capture and hold.
    --  Accolades:  Select Kia vehicles recently have been recognized by the
        U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Green Vehicle Guide
        and have earned a "SmartWay" certification mark.  The guide
        gives environmental scores for cars and trucks based on emission levels
        and fuel economy values.  The best environmental performers receive the
        SmartWay designation, which means the vehicle scores well on both Air
        Pollution and Greenhouse Gas, according to the EPA.

Kia Motors' quality is recognized in an industry-leading reliability study, entering the top 10 for the first time and making the most improvement of any OEM (jumping 12 slots to #10 overall). Other accolades in 2008 include:

              -- Borrego selected as "Best Kept Secret" in
                 Autobytel.com/MyRide.com Editor's Choice Awards
              -- Amanti topped Strategic Vision Total Value Index(R) and
                 SmartGreenIndex(SM)
              -- Sorento awarded top ranking in 2008 AutoPacific Ideal
                 Vehicle Awards
              -- Sedona named a "Best Buy" by Consumers Digest
              -- Rondo awarded "Best Buy" award by Consumer Guide for
                 midsize cars
              -- Rio and Sedona awarded "Recommended" awards by Consumer
                 Guide Automotive
              -- Kia.com has been a four-time winner of the J.D. Power
                 and Associates Manufacturer Web site Evaluation Study
                 (MWES) Award
              -- Sorento received top ranking in AutoPacific 2008 Vehicle
                 Satisfaction Awards
              -- Rio/Rio5 named to Gayot.com Top 10 Best Small Cars list
              -- Sedona named to Gayot.com Top 10 Best Value list
              -- Seven Kia models named a "Best Bet" by The Car Book 2008
              -- Rondo named to Parents Magazine and Edmunds.com Best
                 Family Cars 2008 list

    --  Kia Soul:  With its U.S. debut at the 2008 LAAS, the Soul's bold
        and edgy design is indicative of the new Kia Motors design theme and
        offers more package and styling combinations than any previous Kia
        vehicle.  As an investment to the brand and commitment to dealers, KMA
        ordered and shipped a pre production Soul to nearly every Kia Motors
        retailer in the U.S. to show consumers everywhere how the brand is
        evolving with its next vehicle - one that is priced aggressively in the
        teens.
    --  Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG):  Construction of Kia's
        first U.S. manufacturing plant is progressing on schedule.  The plant, a
        $1 billion state-of-the-art facility, is located in West Point, Georgia
        and has capacity to produce 300,000 vehicles for North America and other
        global markets.  The plant will provide 2,500 jobs with up to 7,500 jobs
        generated through related suppliers in Georgia and surrounding
        communities and currently employs 370 team members.
    --  Marketing:  Enhancements to Kia Motors' brand image continue to be
        far-reaching, including partnering with AutoTrader.com to increase
        online presence to car shoppers; partnering with imeem, a leading social
        music site, to be the first advertiser to use its new "imeem for
        Android" social music application for the Android mobile platform. 
        To further appeal to Gen-Y audiences with a purpose in every connection,
        KMA created a collection of post cards or "Soul Cards" instead
        of traditional auto show brochures to explore different aspects of
        Soul's personality, such as its stylishness, sex appeal and
        sportiness.  To learn the latest information and build awareness for the
        Soul, the cards feature a new mobile technology using camera phones and
        barcodes to link to the Soul's mobile microsite.  KMA also has been
        bringing the Soul directly to this customer in ways that tie to their
        personal passions.  An example is the Vans Warped Tour, an indy-rock
        concert series that connected Kia Motors to young music fans.  KMA was
        the "Exclusive Automotive Partner" of the concert series in
        2008 and plans to partner again in 2009.
    --  Official Automotive Partner of the NBA:  The official announcement of
        KMA's relationship with the NBA was first made public at a press
        conference in New York in January 2008 and at NAIAS one year ago during
        a press conference, announcing its "Official Automotive
        Partner" designation.  Prior to the NBA league partnership KMA put
        in place 16 individual team partnerships to focus on market-specific
        community relations programming.  These individual community relations
        efforts create programs that benefit residents, lend support to the
        underprivileged and promote youth education.  This past season, KMA and
        select teams worked together to promote various local community programs
        enabling hundreds of individuals of all ages to take part in local
        initiatives, while supporting their respective communities.  The
        partnership between KMA and the 16 NBA teams will continue to enable
        future programs in conjunction with the NBA team partners in 2009.

2009 Product Line

Kia Motors America offers a dynamic and diverse product line of 11 vehicles to meet the needs of all lifestyles. The 2009 vehicle line features the functional Rondo CUV and award-winning Sedona minivan along with a wide variety of popular passenger cars, including the refined Amanti full size sedan, purposeful Optima mid size sedan, versatile and compact Spectra and Spectra5, and sporty yet fuel efficient Rio and Rio5 subcompacts. The vehicle line also features the all-new and affordably luxurious Borrego, rugged Sorento and value-packed Sportage SUVs. The Soul will further complement the lineup when it arrives in dealerships this spring.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2008, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of increased U.S. market share. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Kia Motors America is the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site - www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

SOURCE Kia Motors America, Inc.