NEWS

KIA has pulled the wraps off its all-new mini MPV – which will hit UK Kia dealer showrooms early next year. To be called ‘Venga’, the new model uses a stretched version of the highly capable platform already seen in the Hyundai i20. It debuted in concept form at the Geneva Motor Show: it will [...]

HYUNDAI-KIA is now the world’s fourth-largest car maker, taking the slot from famous global icon Ford. The margin of victory for sales from the first half of 2009 is small – just 8000 cars – but it’s a big leap by Hyundai-Kia. Or, rather, a big fall by Ford, whose global sales fell by 30 [...]

MISS Northern Ireland is to use a car dealer’s Kia Soul, as she prepares for the Miss World competition. Downeys Kia has provided 17 year old Cherie Gardiner with the Soul, as part of a sponsorship deal stretching back five years. Gardiner is the latest winner to benefit – and will take the car dealer’s [...]

KIA Wessex Gardens has just opening in Cardiff, after an investment topping £1.5 million. Billed as a ‘state of the art’ dealership, the new site boasts a 600 sq ft showroom as its centrepiece. It joins Fiat and Abarth franchises on the Penarth Road site, meaning up to 200 new and used cars can now [...]

KIA has appointed a new regional business manager for the South East region – former John Grose man Tim Adjemian. The 39 year old will have 17 dealers under his watch. It’s an appointment that’s pleased Kia’s sales director, Yaser Shabsogh. ‘We’re delighted to have Tim on board. ‘He has a wealth of experience behind [...]

KIA car dealer Toll House has donated a brand-new Kia Soul to Sussex Police, to help out neighborhood beat patrols. Community Support Officers will be using the Soul for routine street briefings in the Horsham South area. Toll House donated the Soul Shaker for a year – and will replace it after six months, too. [...]

TOYOTA has filled its sales director post, vacated after Michael Cole left to become MD of Kia UK. Richard Baldshaw is the new man at the helm, reporting to commercial director boss Jon Williams. The 40 year old Toyota sales expert has been with TGB for 15 years now, and has already started work in [...]

MARSHALL Motor Group has announced a new deal to represent fast-growing value brand Kia. The company’s first Kia franchise will open in Ipswich on 1 July. Ransomes Europark already runs Vauxhall and Chevrolet franchises. Now, an extra string to its budget-conscious bow is added by Kia. Chief executive Daksh Gupta said Marshall was delighted with [...]

TOYOTA former sales director Michael Cole is to take the top seat at fast-growing Korean brand Kia. He replaces Paul Philpott, who has moved to Europe to take the top chief operating officer seat. And it will be UK car dealers who’ll be key to the new man achieving his ambitious aims! Qualified chartered accountant [...]

KIA dealers now have enhanced opportunities in the fleet sales sector, thanks to a new partnership. The company has teamed up with ALD Automotive, to offer a new dealer-based contract hire service. This will help Kia’s 134 car dealers target fleet and corporate sales. Every Kia car dealer in the country can now access ALD’s [...]

KIA’s amazing scrappage-inspired deal on a new Picanto city car proves the benefits of being first out of the traps. A ‘new’ list price of £4195 is so incredibly on message, it’s untrue. And, as reward, the brand (and car) has appeared on BBC lunchtime news! The Beeb were on the blower first thing this [...]

KIA has taken the new car scrap bull by the horns – by retailing the Picanto city car for just £4195! The maker has confirmed it will match the Government’s £1000 scrappage payment, with £1000 of its own. This means anyone scrapping a car 10 years or older will be able to get the city [...]

KIA MD Paul Philpott has said Alistair Darling’s 2009 Budget is ‘good – but could do better.’ Speaking about the new car scrappage scheme, he said he was pleased the Government has responded to the difficult situation car makers are in. However, he was also surprisingly revealing, in saying that ‘I am personally disappointed that [...]

SOUTH Korea has just adopted a new car scrappage scheme – to boost a car industry under pressure. The scheme gives new or neary-new car buyers 2.5 million Won if they scrap a car that’s more than 9 years old. Don’t get too excited. That’s around £1300. Even so, it is expected to help an [...]

CAR Dealer Magazine has not seen a day like it. FOUR car makers unveil dramatic new showcases. To help car dealers get up to speed with the latest buzzwords customers will be taking about, we have reviewed each here. Car Dealer Magazine warns of a particular flurry of customer enquiries THIS MORNING, so informing all [...]

KIA has startled the Car Dealer Magazine office, with quite possibly the used car warranty of the century! Next month, used car buyers choosing an Approved Used Kia will get the warranty TOPPED UP to the same level as if they were buying from new. This means that cars up to 18 months old will [...]