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Kia India Reviews

Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh

4.0/ 5

1 review

Kia India Private Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the South Korean automaker Kia Corporation, established to manage the brand’s manufacturing and marketing operations in India. Officially incorporated on May 19, 2017, the company marked Kia's strategic entry into one of the world's fastest-growing automotive markets. The establishment followed a memorandum of understanding signed with the Andhra Pradesh government in April 2017, which paved the way for a massive greenfield investment. Headquartered in the Sri Sathya Sai District of Andhra Pradesh, with sales offices in Gurugram, Haryana, Kia India operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Penukonda, Anantapur district, spanning 536 acres with an annual production capacity of approximately 300,000 units. The US$2 billion manufacturing plant is highly automated, featuring a press shop, a body shop equipped with over 300 welding robots, an advanced paint shop, and high-precision final assembly lines. Mass production at the facility commenced in August 2019, introducing the Kia Seltos compact SUV as its flagship product. The Seltos quickly became a major bestseller, allowing Kia to capture a significant share of the highly competitive Indian SUV segment. Since then, the product portfolio has expanded substantially to meet diverse consumer demands, featuring popular models such as the Sonet sub-compact SUV, the Carens MPV, the Syros compact SUV, and premium imported offerings like the Carnival MPV, alongside battery electric vehicles including the EV6 crossover, EV9 flagship SUV, and the Carens Clavis EV. Kia India has achieved remarkable milestones within a short operational timeframe, surpassing 700,000 cumulative domestic vehicle sales by May 2023. Beyond domestic leadership, the Anantapur facility serves as a critical global export hub, shipping vehicles to over 100 countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Financially, the unlisted private company represents a large-scale enterprise, generating an operating revenue of INR 33,800 crore for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. The company maintains an authorized share capital of INR 6,000 crore. Led by CEO Gwanggu Lee, Kia India heavily emphasizes innovation and sustainability. In 2023, the firm committed INR 2,000 crore toward research and development and facility upgrades, primarily focused on customizing vehicles, adjustments to suspension systems for challenging Indian road terrains, and electric vehicle localization. Under its global brand slogan, "Movement that Inspires," Kia India integrates advanced connected-car features, boasting over 200,000 connected vehicles on Indian roads supported by a widespread network of over 330 touchpoints. The company also demonstrates strong corporate social responsibility through initiatives like the Green Light Project, which fosters health, education, and community self-reliance in the Anantapur region.