Kia Motors: Why It Is Eyeing India!
Cyrus Dhabhar
1 min read
Nov 14, 2016, 05:30 PM
Key Highlights
- Kia has some good looking cars in its line-up
- Kia has a large presence in South Korean, American and European markets
- Kia is yet to announce the timeline for its entry in India
A few months ago we broke the exclusive news about how Kia Motors is in its final stages of planning and execution of its India plans. Although there has not been much official development on that front just yet, we did get a chance to experience some of what Kia has to offer very recently. And while we explored what the Kia brand is all about, here is why we think Kia is strongly eyeing the Indian market and why a brand like Kia would actually work in India.
As a subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor Corporation, Kia is based in Seoul, South Korea and has a very large presence in the American and European markets apart from having almost 25 per cent market share in South Korean markets. Now, the brand itself in terms of being an automaker is quite young but only recently has it come into the limelight with some very good looking cars that are still affordable and offer great tech.
In fact, in the last 5-6 years, the Kia brand has completely transformed itself from a ‘cheap car manufacturer’ to an ‘affordable car manufacturer’. That is no easy task of course and considering how many design awards the brand has won under lead designer Peter Schreyer, it seems to be going in the right direction.
The Kia Picanto Will Take On The Likes Of The Hyundai Grand i10
If any car company does want to make its presence felt, it needs to have a large enough portfolio and Kia offers cars right across the price range. From the small and compact Picanto that really started to get the ball rolling for Kia to the larger newer products like the Rio, Sportage and the Sorento, Kia Motors is pretty well covered.
And this spread of cars is exactly why a company like Kia is eyeing India keenly. For example, the two segments that are booming in India today are the SUV segments across most price points and the premium hatchback segment. Kia has the perfect fit when it comes to the premium hatchback segment with the new Kia Rio that was recently unveiled at the 2016 Paris Auto Show. Although technically a Hyundai i20 underneath, the European design looks a lot cleaner and simpler which could attract quite a few buyers.
The Kia Sportage SUV Will Pave The Path For SUVs in New Segments
Kia’s SUV portfolio is also quite extensive in most markets. The Kia Sportage is one of the most popular compact SUVs in markets like the United States and Europe (apart from the domestic South Korean Markets) and the Soul (although not really an SUV) is also a very iconic product for the Korean car maker.
Considering the fact that Hyundai and Kia both share research and development facilities along with platforms for all its cars, Kia could easily develop great looking cars for compact SUV segment in India. This could be both the sub 4-metre SUV to go up against the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and another SUV which could be based on the Hyundai Creta platform. This will also means great pricing since Kia itself hasn’t had to spend money to design and develop a new Indian spec model or platform in particular.
It only makes sense for a brand like Kia with no real history and heritage to follow up on to make its Indian debut with a fresh approach. Although in almost every market around the world, Kia is seen as a much cheaper alternative to the Hyundai cars, in India, Kia could actually price at a higher point and offer a lot more tech and features as a part of standard equipment in order to break into the India segment. In fact, if Kia adopts a top down approach to its launch strategy in India, it could easily pave the way for a whole bunch of future products like a small hatchback the size of the Grand i10, a sedan which goes up against the likes of the Honda City and maybe even a segment lower than the Grand i10 where currently the Hyundai Eon doesn’t really seem to be doing much due to competition from the liked of the Renault Kwid.
Although Kia’s official stance is very reserved in terms of timelines for its India factory and product lineup, we shall get you all the up to date news, opinions and reviews about the brand and its grand entry.
As a subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor Corporation, Kia is based in Seoul, South Korea and has a very large presence in the American and European markets apart from having almost 25 per cent market share in South Korean markets. Now, the brand itself in terms of being an automaker is quite young but only recently has it come into the limelight with some very good looking cars that are still affordable and offer great tech.
In fact, in the last 5-6 years, the Kia brand has completely transformed itself from a ‘cheap car manufacturer’ to an ‘affordable car manufacturer’. That is no easy task of course and considering how many design awards the brand has won under lead designer Peter Schreyer, it seems to be going in the right direction.
If any car company does want to make its presence felt, it needs to have a large enough portfolio and Kia offers cars right across the price range. From the small and compact Picanto that really started to get the ball rolling for Kia to the larger newer products like the Rio, Sportage and the Sorento, Kia Motors is pretty well covered.
And this spread of cars is exactly why a company like Kia is eyeing India keenly. For example, the two segments that are booming in India today are the SUV segments across most price points and the premium hatchback segment. Kia has the perfect fit when it comes to the premium hatchback segment with the new Kia Rio that was recently unveiled at the 2016 Paris Auto Show. Although technically a Hyundai i20 underneath, the European design looks a lot cleaner and simpler which could attract quite a few buyers.
Kia’s SUV portfolio is also quite extensive in most markets. The Kia Sportage is one of the most popular compact SUVs in markets like the United States and Europe (apart from the domestic South Korean Markets) and the Soul (although not really an SUV) is also a very iconic product for the Korean car maker.
Considering the fact that Hyundai and Kia both share research and development facilities along with platforms for all its cars, Kia could easily develop great looking cars for compact SUV segment in India. This could be both the sub 4-metre SUV to go up against the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and another SUV which could be based on the Hyundai Creta platform. This will also means great pricing since Kia itself hasn’t had to spend money to design and develop a new Indian spec model or platform in particular.
It only makes sense for a brand like Kia with no real history and heritage to follow up on to make its Indian debut with a fresh approach. Although in almost every market around the world, Kia is seen as a much cheaper alternative to the Hyundai cars, in India, Kia could actually price at a higher point and offer a lot more tech and features as a part of standard equipment in order to break into the India segment. In fact, if Kia adopts a top down approach to its launch strategy in India, it could easily pave the way for a whole bunch of future products like a small hatchback the size of the Grand i10, a sedan which goes up against the likes of the Honda City and maybe even a segment lower than the Grand i10 where currently the Hyundai Eon doesn’t really seem to be doing much due to competition from the liked of the Renault Kwid.
Although Kia’s official stance is very reserved in terms of timelines for its India factory and product lineup, we shall get you all the up to date news, opinions and reviews about the brand and its grand entry.
Related News
Latest Cars
Upcoming Cars
Trending News
3 mins readWill The Kawasaki W230 Be Launched In India?
Latest News
car&bike Team | Dec 23, 2025India Bike Week 2025 In Pictures: Highlights From Edition 12The 12th Edition of IBW was held on December 19 and 20, and if you missed this year’s festival, here is a recap of all that happened.3 mins read
Amaan Ahmed | Dec 23, 2025Tata To Enter Rs 40 Lakh Passenger Car Market With First Avinya Electric SUV In End-2026Set to be one of three EV launches from Tata Motors next year, the first in the Avinya series of electric vehicles will catapult the Pune-based carmaker into uncharted market territory, as it will be the most expensive Tata yet.1 min read
car&bike Team | Dec 23, 2025Will The Kawasaki W230 Be Launched In India?Kawasaki India has teased the W230 on its Instagram handle, indicating that the Kawasaki W230 may be in consideration for a launch in India.3 mins read
Jaiveer Mehra | Dec 23, 2025Suzuki Fronx Secures One Star Safety Rating In ANCAP Crash Tests As Rear Seatbelt Fails During TestingThe Fronx scored less than 50 per cent points in both, adult and child occupant protection categories.1 min read
car&bike Team | Dec 23, 2025Final Jaguar F-Pace Rolls Of The Line: Production EndsThe Jaguar F-Pace marks the end of the brand’s internal combustion lineup, as the final model rolls off the line.2 mins read
car&bike Team | Dec 22, 2025Maruti Suzuki Celerio Secures Three-Star Rating In Global NCAP Crash TestsSix airbags-equipped model secured a three-star adult and two-star child occupant protection rating; the dual airbag model scored a two-star rating.3 mins read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Dec 23, 20252026 Kia Seltos Review: Formula Is Spot On, But Is The Timing Right?The 2nd-gen Kia Seltos has arrived, but it has the challenge of facing strong rivals like the Victoris and Sierra. The question is simple - Does it still have what it takes?9 mins read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Dec 22, 20252026 Tata Harrier & Safari 1.5 Hyperion Review: By The Power Of Petrol!The new Tata Harrier and Safari petrol packs a new 1.5-litre TGDI Hyperion engine, but is it an ideal alternative to the diesel version?7 mins read
Bilal Firfiray | Dec 19, 2025Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara Review: Worth The Wait?After a long wait, the first-ever electric Maruti Suzuki is here. It’s the e-Vitara, and it comes with a few promises. But arriving this late, is it worth the wait? Or is it a case of too little, too late?9 mins read
Bilal Firfiray | Dec 18, 2025Mercedes-Benz G450d: The Subtle Power of EvolutionThe Mercedes-Benz G 450d evolves subtly with more power, improved efficiency, and modern tech, while staying true to the timeless G-Class design. And character.4 mins read
Janak Sorap | Dec 11, 2025Harley-Davidson X440 T First Ride Review: Smarter and SharperHarley-Davidson has taken the X440 and given it a more focused and engaging twist. The result is the X440 T—essentially the same platform but updated in areas that give the motorcycle more appeal and riders more thrill.5 mins read