Stéphane Dumas
15/12/2003, 11h25
info trouvé à http://just-auto.com/news_detail.asp?art=43059&nf=yes
Kia est déjà en train de changer son image en Europe. Si la nouvelle "grosse" Kia a un acceuil tiède ici dû à son look, je présume que les prochains modèles vont éviter de faire 2 fois la même erreur.
GERMANY: Kia abandons cheap car segment - report
15 Dec 2003
Source: just-auto.com editorial team
Kia, Europe's fastest-growing brand, is abandoning the cheap car segment, Automotive News Europe said.
The move is part of Hyundai-Kia's ambition to become one of the top five global players by 2010. Kia will introduce 16 new products over the next three years. But the company won't compete at the bottom of the market any more.
"We feel that there is no future in being the cheapest product," said Kia Motors Europe vice president Jean-Charles Lievens. He cited Skoda and Audi as examples of companies that have managed to shift to a more upscale image. In future, Kia wants to be perceived as a "younger, friendly and sporty" carmaker, while Hyundai will remain the mainstream brand.
Kia aims to more than triple European sales to 300,000 in 2005 from 90,000 in 2002. Currently, Kia produces 1.2 million cars annually. Hyundai produces 2.1 million cars.
By 2007, Hyundai-Kia wants to reach 4.2 million units and another million by 2010. The cars will come from Korea, but also from North America, China, India and an eastern European plant likely to be built in Slovakia or Poland.
Kia est déjà en train de changer son image en Europe. Si la nouvelle "grosse" Kia a un acceuil tiède ici dû à son look, je présume que les prochains modèles vont éviter de faire 2 fois la même erreur.
GERMANY: Kia abandons cheap car segment - report
15 Dec 2003
Source: just-auto.com editorial team
Kia, Europe's fastest-growing brand, is abandoning the cheap car segment, Automotive News Europe said.
The move is part of Hyundai-Kia's ambition to become one of the top five global players by 2010. Kia will introduce 16 new products over the next three years. But the company won't compete at the bottom of the market any more.
"We feel that there is no future in being the cheapest product," said Kia Motors Europe vice president Jean-Charles Lievens. He cited Skoda and Audi as examples of companies that have managed to shift to a more upscale image. In future, Kia wants to be perceived as a "younger, friendly and sporty" carmaker, while Hyundai will remain the mainstream brand.
Kia aims to more than triple European sales to 300,000 in 2005 from 90,000 in 2002. Currently, Kia produces 1.2 million cars annually. Hyundai produces 2.1 million cars.
By 2007, Hyundai-Kia wants to reach 4.2 million units and another million by 2010. The cars will come from Korea, but also from North America, China, India and an eastern European plant likely to be built in Slovakia or Poland.