There's a New Indy Contender; Kia Vehicles Now Available in Indiana
30 April 1998
There's a New Indy Contender; Kia Vehicles Now Available in Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS, April 30 -- Kia Motors America begins its
launch into Indiana as eight dealerships begin selling Kia vehicles over the
course of the next two weeks.
The new dealership openings are part of Kia's planned expansion into the
Midwest in 1998. With the addition of the new Indiana dealers, Kia vehicles
now are on sale at nearly 400 dealerships in 39 states.
Kia currently sells two vehicles -- the Sephia (pronounced Seh-FEE-uh)
compact sedan and the Sportage (SPORT-ij) sport-utility vehicle. A third
model, the Sportage 2-Door Convertible, will arrive at showrooms next month.
"We expect the people of Indiana to find a lot to like in our vehicles, "
explained Dick Macedo, Kia's vice president of marketing and sales. "Our
research has told us that, more than ever, people are seeking value and
quality, and that's what Kia vehicles deliver. The Sephia features more
standard equipment than many of its competitors, yet its starting price begins
well below that of other compact sedans. Our Sportage makes the fun and
versatility of a sport-utility vehicle affordable to more consumers than ever
before."
Before retail sales began in the United States in 1994, Kia sent its cars
through an extensive series of tests, including putting 2,000 Sephia compact
sedans into service at Budget Rent-A-Car in 1993. Using a strategy devised by
Greg Warner, Kia has spent the last four years establishing dealerships on a
market-by-market basis. Starting in the West and Southwest, Kia Motors
America expanded across the Sun Belt, into the Southeast and then up the
Atlantic Coast as far as New York. This year, Kia will continue its market-
by-market strategy by expanding into New England, and the balance of the
Midwest. Kia expects to have dealerships nationwide by the end of 1998.
"We only choose dealerships that demonstrate a commitment to serving their
customers. Our mission is to provide affordable, value-filled vehicles, and
our dealers have to maintain that same high standard," Macedo said. "We want
dealers who put the customer first."
Kia's customer-driven philosophy is backed by dependable, reliable
vehicles that have completed real-world testing with flying colors. The
Sephia, which stood up well to the abuses of rental car drivers, pizza
delivery guys and driving school students, is an affordably priced, well-
equipped compact sedan with a manufacturer's suggested retail price beginning
at $9,995. The 1998 model features a powerful 1.8-liter, 16-valve, dual
overhead camshaft (DOHC) four-cylinder engine and dual airbags.
The Sportage was the recipient of a "Best Overall Value of the Year" award
in 1998 and 1997 from IntelliChoice, Inc., an independent consumer research
firm. The Sportage was also named the best buy among compact sport-utility
vehicles according to the Men's Journal 1997 Buyer's Guide and was named one
of Four Wheeler magazine's top 10 best buys for 1996 and 1997. Popular
Science voted the Sportage the "Best of What's New" in 1995.
The Sportage is a rugged sport-utility vehicle designed with passenger
comfort and versatility in mind. It is powered by a 2.0-liter, 16-valve, DOHC
four-cylinder with a five-speed manual transmission standard and automatic
transmission optional. The Sportage's driver- and passenger-side airbag
system includes the world's first knee airbag. The Sportage is available in
both two-wheel drive and part-time four-wheel drive. Prices for the 1998
Sportage begin at $14,895.
To support its customer first philosophy, Kia has established several
policies that set it apart from other manufacturers. All Kia Sephias come
with very competitive warranties: a three-year/36,000-mile basic limited
vehicle warranty and five-year/60,000-mile limited powertrain coverage. All
owners are covered by Kia Extra-Mile Care, a program that includes 24-hour
roadside assistance, for the term of the basic limited warranty. Kia will
contact customers no less than seven times during the first two years of
ownership, including surveys following the initial purchase and first service
to make sure they're happy with the service they received.
Kia Motors America is the U.S. sales, marketing and service arm of Kia
Motors Corp., in Seoul, South Korea.
INDIANA DEALERSHIPS
Bloomington Kia Ray Skillman Kia
2200 South Walnut 8424 U.S. 31 South
Bloomington, IN 47421 Indianapolis, IN 46227
812-331-2200 317-889-9500
Thomas C. Martin Ray Skillman
Evansville Kia Tom Wood Kia
4000 E. Division Street, Auto Plaza 4250 Lafayette Road
Evansville, IN 47715 Indianapolis, IN 46254
812-473-0215 317-297-2444
David Duell Thomas I. Wood
Fort Wayne Kia Bob Rohrman Kia
4920 Lima Road 304 Sagamore Parkway North
Fort Wayne, IN 46808 Lafayette, IN 47905
219-484-9500 765-448-1502
Robert V. Rohrman Robert V. Rohrman
Butler Kia Jordan Kia
3355 Harper Road 609 E. Jefferson Blvd.
Indianapolis, IN 46240 Mishawaka, IN 46545
317-848-4200 219-259-1981
Robert G. Butler Craig A. Kapson
SOURCE Kia Motors America
