On the 5th, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun said, "With Kia's 80-year heritage in our hearts, let's embark on a great journey toward 100 years."
That day at Vision Square in Yongin, Gyeonggi, Chung said, "Founding Chairman Chung Ju-yung valued Kia's unique spirit so highly that he wrote 'Long live the Kia spirit' on the millennium monument at the Hwaseong plant," adding, "Every effort—from reflecting on brand identity and improving organizational culture to the journey toward future mobility for a sustainable environment—was possible because of Kia's spirit."
Chung added, "Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo consistently emphasized quality and the global field when Hyundai Motor Group was launched," and said, "We will keep emphasizing it as well." After taking office as Kia's CEO and president in 2005, Chung led the company for five years and practiced design-driven management that changed the organizational culture through global management and innovation.
Kia President Song Ho-sung personally unveiled the brand history book "80 Years of Kia" that day. Under the theme of "Challenge and exertion," it compiles in one volume the growth story from two-wheeled bicycles and motorcycles to three-wheelers, passenger cars, electric vehicles and purpose-built vehicles (PBV). It also captures crisis moments akin to corporate liquidation, including the 1997 debt workout and court receivership in 1998.
Song emphasized, "We will make Kia's history a driving force for the future." He continued, "We face a new environment with current global trade policy and supply chain shifts, technological advances and challenges from Chinese brands. We will find the key to overcoming the crisis in the essence of realizing mobility value," adding, "We will provide eco-friendly mobility and software-based services that can enhance the value of life through freedom of movement."
Kia featured two leaders from its longer history than Hyundai Motor in a video. Although it was merged into Hyundai Motor in 1998, Kia traces its roots to Kyungsung Precision Industry in 1944. The video highlights founder Kim Cheol-ho, who made the 3000-ri two-wheeled bicycle at Kyungsung Precision Industry and later grew the company into a four-wheeled vehicle manufacturer beyond motorcycles and three-wheelers, as well as Hyundai Motor Group Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo's quality management that led to entry into North America.
Kia also presented its future vision through the Vision Metatourismo concept car that day. Karim Habib, Kia's executive vice president and head of design, personally introduced the vehicle. In particular, three driving modes based on an Augmented Reality (AR) head-up display (AR HUD) use the smart glass installed in the vehicle to project virtual graphics stereoscopically onto real roads, delivering an immersive driving experience.
Kia unveiled the 80th anniversary exhibition "The Legacy of Movement" alongside the event. From the first domestically made bicycle "3000-ri" to flagship models such as the Sportage and Carnival, and strategic models for key global hubs, a total of 17 vehicles were displayed.
The exhibition is organized into eight spaces, including "Wheels and legacy," "Evolution and legacy," "Pioneering and legacy," and "People and legacy." In particular, the "people and legacy" space, which spotlighted the honorary chairman's quality management story and the secrets behind long-running models' success, drew strong interest. The exhibition will run through 2029 and will later open to the general public.