Kia established a local subsidiary in Indonesia and unveiled the Carens facelift model that will go on sale starting next month.
On the 14th (local time), Kia's Indonesia subsidiary held a launch ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel in the capital, Jakarta. Indonesia is the sixth country in the Asia-Pacific region where Kia has set up a local subsidiary, following Thailand, India, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. In Malaysia, where the Asia-Pacific regional headquarters and a production subsidiary are located, a sales subsidiary was also newly established.
Until now, PT Kreta Indo Artha handled Kia vehicle sales and brand operations in the Indonesian market. Going forward, Kia's Indonesia subsidiary will take this over directly. It plans to oversee not only sales but also marketing and brand development, pursuing strategies tailored to the local market.
By establishing the subsidiary, Kia aims to improve accessibility to the Indonesian market and, through swift decision-making, introduce vehicles that meet local consumer needs.
Park Jong-seong, head of Kia's Indonesia subsidiary, said, "Indonesia is a very important market for Kia," adding, "This launch is a meaningful starting point that goes beyond organizational restructuring to promise sustainable growth and social contribution in Indonesia."
The Carens facelift model was also unveiled locally for the first time. The model was first unveiled in India in May last year and is on sale there. In Indonesia, sales are set to begin next month.
Kia's Indonesia subsidiary plans to produce the electric vehicle "Carens EV" at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (HMMI) in Bekasi, Indonesia, starting in November.
Kia first entered the Indonesian automobile market in 1994 through an equity investment. However, last year it sold a total of 277 units, including the Carens, Seltos, Sonet, Carnival and EV9.
Kia set this year's sales target at 2,000 units and plans to expand to annual sales of 40,000 units by 2030.