Kia Archives

October 4, 2022

Kia Motors (Lanka) Limited has opened a new Car Care Centre in Narahenpita for customers, continuing to invest in service infrastructure despite the serious challenges confronting automobile importers in Sri Lanka.

The new Kia Car Care Centre at 128 Nawala Road, Narahenpita, Colombo 5, comprises of facilities for lubrication services, a Detailing Studio, a retail outlet for detailing products and accessories, a spare parts outlet, a customer lounge and accommodation for employees, the Company said.

“Kia has a large and loyal customer base in Sri Lanka, and as the sole authorized distributor for the brand we are committed to upgrade and expand our infrastructure for aftersales service, keeping pace with Kia’s globally-evolving standards,” Kia Motors (Lanka) Managing Director Mr Andrew Perera said. “Import restrictions have meant that we are unable to offer the latest Kia models in the market, but we will not compromise on our services to existing customers.”

He said the new Car Care Centre is designed and branded in conformity with Kia’s global corporate identity (CI) guidelines unveiled last year with the launch of Kia’s new logo and brand persona. It is equipped and has been upgraded at a cost of more than Rs 10 million and replaces Kia’s Car Centre at Kirula Road, Colombo 5, which was set up five years ago.

The Detailing Studio at the new Kia Car Care Centre has two bays for interior and exterior detailing and will use detailing products from the 121-year old international car care brand Meguiar’s. The complex is aIso equipped with four two-post hoists for lube serving, two single-post hoists for undercarriage washes and a detailing area for finishes.

The customer lounge is furnished to enable customers to relax in comfort while their vehicles are being attended to, with free Wi-Fi, coffee and refreshments, and the new retail store within the facility will be a one-stop-shop for car care products, the Company said.

Kia’s 24/7 Roadside Assistance Team will be housed at, and also operate from the new Car Care Centre.

Kia Motors (Lanka) has represented the Kia brand in Sri Lanka since 1996 and has been instrumental in making it one of the best-regarded automobile brands in the country. The Company’s Rs 800 million Logistics Centre in Malabe is supported by a sales and service network spearheaded by wholly-owned subsidiaries Carplan and Autopoint (Kurunegala) as 3S dealers. Kia Motors (Lanka) also has a showroom in Batticaloa, has appointed Service Dealers in Ampara, Galle and Ratnapura, and franchised spare parts dealers in Colombo, Moratuwa, Gampaha, Kandy, Ratnapura, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa and Matara.

March 30, 2022

Kia EV6 battery electric vehicle wins first ‘Car of the Year’ award for Korean carmaker, beating Ford Mustang Mach-E, Peugeot 308, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Renault Mégane E-Tech and others

EV6 also awarded Red Dot Design ‘Best of the Best’ and ‘Innovative Products’ awards

Eight Kia vehicles win TSP and TSP+ awards from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

New cars are in short supply in Sri Lanka, but owners of Kia automobiles have cause to cheer the popular Korean nameplate which has roared into 2022 winning the coveted European Car of the Year award, two Red Dot Design awards and a remarkable eight Top Safety Pick (TSP) awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Kia’s revolutionary EV6, the brand’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV), which stands out for its ultra-fast charging, swift acceleration and zero emissions, has been crowned the ‘2022 Car of the Year’ at the prestigious European Car of the Year (COTY) Awards, beating the shortlisted Hyundai IONIQ 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Škoda Enyaq iV, Cupra Born, Renault Mégane E-Tech and Peugeot 308. Notably, the EV6 is the first Kia automobile to win an European Car of the Year award.

The EV6 also claimed overall victory at the prestigious 2022 Red Dot Design Awards, one of the largest design competitions in the world, winning the ‘Red Dot: Best of the Best’ accolade for its pioneering and forward-looking design and the Red Dot category award for ‘Innovative Products.’

Meanwhile, the Kia Telluride, Sorento, Seltos and Carnival built after March 2021 (with specific headlights), as well as the Kia Sportage and Soul (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights) have all received TSP awards, while the Kia K5 and Stinger sedans have qualified as TSP+ winners.

All 2022 TSP winners earned “Good” ratings in six crashworthiness tests – driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests – as well as an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention evaluations. In addition, the vehicle must have at least one available headlight system that earns a “Good” or “Acceptable” rating. For a TSP+ designation, the “Good” or “Acceptable” headlight system must be standard equipment.

Kia Motors (Lanka) Managing Director Mr Andrew Perera described the news of these awards as electrifying news for Kia enthusiasts in Sri Lanka who have been unable to experience the latest models due to import restrictions to conserve foreign exchange. “The EV6 in particular is an exciting sign of what’s still to come in our evolving electrified line-up, and we look forward to the time when we can resume the import of new world-class models from Kia, including the award winning EV6 which combines the best of eco-friendly operation with adrenaline-pumping performance,” he said.

The Kia EV6 is positioned as the embodiment of the new Kia. It can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 5.2 seconds in the standard version and in an eye-watering 3.5 seconds in the GT version, can reach a top speed of 260 kmph, can cover up to 528 kms on a single charge in the long-range version and achieve 800V high-speed charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes, all with zero emissions.

At the 2022 European Car of the Year awards, the Kia EV6 was voted the overall winner by a 61-strong jury consisting of highly respected motoring journalists from 23 European countries. The SUV was initially listed for consideration for the ‘European Car of the Year’ Award alongside over sixty models that launched in 2021. In November 2021, the COTY jury whittled this longlist down to a seven-strong shortlist, six of which were electric vehicles (EVs), further demonstrating the growing importance of electric vehicles to consumers as society transitions towards a new mobility future.

The EV6 is the first of seven dedicated EV models Kia plans to launch by 2026. The all-electric crossover will play a key role in the company’s plans to become a leading global sustainable mobility solutions provider.

The 2022 European Car of the Year award is the latest in a growing number of top-notch awards bestowed on the Kia EV6 since its introduction last year. Other titles recently won include: 2022 Irish Car of the Year; 2022 What Car? ‘Car of the Year’; ‘Crossover of the Year’ at the TopGear.com 2021 awards; ‘Premium’ winner in the German Car of the Year 2022 awards; and joint winner of the inaugural ‘Best Cars of the Year’ 2021/2022 awards.

Kia Motors (Lanka) has represented the Kia brand in Sri Lanka since 1996 and has been instrumental in making it one of the best-regarded automobile brands in the country. The Company’s Rs 800 million Logistics Centre in Malabe is supported by a sales and service network spearheaded by wholly-owned subsidiaries Carplan and Autopoint (Kurunegala) as 3S dealers. Kia Motors (Lanka) also has showrooms in Kandy and Matara, has appointed Service Dealers in Ampara, Galle and Ratnapura, and franchised spare parts dealers in Colombo, Moratuwa, Gampaha, Kandy, Ratnapura, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa and Matara.

July 1, 2021

Top Korean car maker Kia’s bold new logo is grabbing attention in Sri Lanka as the brand’s local distributor begins its roll out across multiple touch points as part of a phased adoption of the new brand persona unveiled internationally earlier this year.

The new corporate logo resembling a handwritten signature is accompanied by the brand’s slogan – ‘Movement that inspires’ and announces the automobile manufacturer’s bold transformation and all-new brand purpose. The introduction of the new logo represents Kia’s ambitions to establish a leadership position in the future mobility industry by revamping nearly all facets of its business.

The bold strokes and smooth angles that make up the new logo of Kia are intended to represent symmetry, rhythm and rising, symbolising the values Kia promises to offer customers through future products and services, and the experiences these enable. The rhythmical, unbroken line of the logo conveys the automobile manufacturer’s commitment to bringing moments of inspiration, while its symmetry demonstrates confidence. The rising angles of the logo embody Kia’s rising ambitions for the brand, and more importantly, what it offers customers.

Kia’s new design philosophy ‘Opposites United’ takes inspiration from the contrasts found in nature and humanity. At the center of the design philosophy is a new visual identity evoking positive forces and natural energy, with contrasting combinations of sharp stylistic elements and sculptural shapes.

Commenting on the adoption of the new logo in Sri Lanka, Kia Motors (Lanka) Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Mr Andrew Perera said: “The dramatic transformation expressed by the new logo captures the excitement and optimism with which Kia views its future in the automobile industry. While we transform and reinvent ourselves as envisaged by the new brand direction, we will align and continue to deliver meaningful experiences throughout the owners’ journey, in terms of sales and service through design-driven products and new technologies, keeping our valued customers at the heart of all our decisions. We look forward to the day when the new nameplate will be seen on Sri Lankan roads when import restrictions are lifted.”

The launch of Kia’s new logo follows the announcement of the Company’s ‘Plan S’ long-term business strategy in 2020. Under Plan S, Kia, among other objectives, has set itself the goal of taking a leading position in the global car market. This is focused on popularising electric vehicles and introducing a broad range of mobility services, tailored to meet the needs and tastes of individuals and local markets.

Kia is a global mobility brand with a vision to create sustainable mobility solutions for consumers, communities, and societies around the world. Founded in 1944, Kia has been providing mobility solutions for more than 75 years. With 52,000 employees worldwide, a presence in more than 190 markets, and manufacturing facilities in six countries, the Company today sells around three million vehicles a year.

Kia Motors (Lanka), has represented the Kia brand in Sri Lanka since 1996 and been instrumental in making it one of the most popular automobile brands in the country. With a new Rs 800 million Logistics Centre in Malabe as the hub for a network of owned subsidiaries and franchised satellite sales, service and spare parts outlets, Kia Motors (Lanka) is geared to drive a new phase of growth for the brand when market restrictions are eased.

April 21, 2021

Zero emissions, up to 510 kms on single charge, 0-100 kmph in 3.5 secs in GT version
First dedicated BEV produced by Kia on all-new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP)

Colombo, Wednesday, 21^st April 2021: Adrenalin pumping performance is coupled with guilt-free driving, ultra-fast charging and sleek good looks in an all-new electric vehicle internationally unveiled recently by Korean carmaker Kia.

Imagine accelerating from 0-100 kmph in just 5.2 seconds in the standard version and in an eye-watering 3.5 seconds in the GT version; a top speed of 260 kmph, zero emissions, 510 kms on a single charge in the long-range version, and a high-speed charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes. Enter the Kia EV6 which goes on-sale in select global markets from the second half of 2021.

Described as “the embodiment of the new Kia” by Ho Sung Song, Kia’s President & CEO, the EV6 represents the beginning of Kia’s long-term commitment to sustainable mobility, accelerating the transition not only to clean transportation, but also products, materials and manufacturing. It is born to inspire every journey through bold design, progressive engineering, innovative technologies, and exciting electric performance.

The EV6 is the first dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV) produced by Kia using the all-new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), and forms the first part of Kia’s transition to the new era of electrification under the new brand slogan ‘Movement that inspires.’ It also begins Kia’s mid-to-long term strategy for BEVs, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid electric (HEV) vehicles to make up 40 per cent of Kia’s total sales by 2030, with an annual sales target of 1.6 million units for these eco-friendly models.

“This is stimulating news for Kia fans in Sri Lanka, even though it is going to be a while before the EV6 arrives in this country, given the dynamics of the local automobile market,” said Andrew Perera, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors (Lanka). “What it does is to demonstrate what Kia is doing to take pole position in the new EV era, and gives motoring enthusiasts a glimpse of what is waiting for them, when import restrictions are lifted.

The EV6 was designed under Kia’s new design philosophy ‘Opposites United’, which takes inspiration from the contrasts found in nature and humanity. At the center of the design philosophy is a new visual identity evoking positive forces and natural energy, with contrasting combinations of sharp stylistic elements and sculptural shapes.

The EV6 offers buyers a choice of multiple fully-electric, zero-emission powertrain configurations, including long-range (77.4 kWh) and standard-range (58.0 kWh) high-voltage battery packs. EV6 GT-line is available with both long-range and standard-range battery packs, while EV6 GT features the long-range battery pack only. This is Kia’s first electric vehicle to be available with two-wheel (2WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) options – the latter offering enhanced dynamic capability in even the most challenging conditions.

The 2WD 77.4 kWh EV6 can travel over 510 kilometers (316 miles) on a single charge on the WLTP combined cycle. With a maximum 605 Nm torque available on the AWD version, the EV6 can accelerate from 0-to-100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds. The 77.4 kWh battery pack is paired with a 168 kW (229ps) electric motor powering the rear wheels, and for AWD models a 239 kW (325 ps) electric motor powers the front and rear wheels.

The GT version of EV6 demonstrates Kia’s technological leadership through a combination of outstanding high-speed charging and acceleration performance like a super sports car. With Kia’s dedicated EV platform, there is no need for compromise between inspiring spaciousness and performance. Designed to deliver something different in the crossover class, the GT version of the EV6 offers a distinctive, impactful exterior with high-tech features, as well as unprecedented levels of performance from a Kia electric vehicle.

The EV6 offers 800V and 400V charging capabilities, without the need for additional components or adapters. The car is capable of a high-speed charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes on all variations or a top-up charge of 100km of driving range in less than four and a half minutes when pairing 2WD with the 77.4-kWh battery option.

January 17, 2020

Kia Stonic

Kia’s pledge to reignite interest in Sri Lanka’s automobile market with exciting new entries has seen the release in Colombo of a second new model from the Korean nameplate in less than a month.

Described as one of the brand’s most striking cars to date and as one of the most compelling new cars in the rapidly-expanding compact SUV segment, the Kia Stonic is the result of a close collaboration between Kia’s European and Korean design studios, and is manufactured at Kia’s Sohari production facility in Korea.

Inspired by SUV design, the Stonic is powered by Kia’s most advanced lightweight three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbocharged gasoline direct injection (T-GDI) engine with 120 BHP coupled to a seven-speed double-clutch transmission. It maximises mechanical efficiency and performance, delivering immediate acceleration, quick handling responses and high fuel efficiency.

“The Stonic has the potential to become one of our best-selling cars in Sri Lanka,” said Mr Andrew Perera, Chief Operating Officer/Executive Director of Kia Motors (Lanka). “It is an eye-catching and confident compact SUV with true European design flair, is the most customisable Kia ever inside and out, and is one of the smartest cars in its class, with a range of technologies designed to enhance handling, safety, comfort and convenience.”

Thanks to a series of signature design elements, the Stonic has Kia’s hallmark ‘tiger-nose’ grille modernised with a new three-dimensional chrome surround, while wide C-pillars echo existing Kia designs, and like all Kia models, the Stonic’s body blends sharp horizontal feature lines with softer sculpted surfaces.

The Stonic is built on a strong, lightweight platform and body shell for maximum passive safety. A high proportion of its body shell is made up of Advanced High Strength Steel, and features 98 metres of structural adhesive welding to further enhance stiffness and safety. Technology also plays a role in enhancing driver enjoyment as well as safety: the front-wheel drive Stonic features Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Kia’s Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system as standard.

More than any other production Kia model to date, the Stonic accords greater priority to sporty, confidence-inspiring dynamics, with direct and immediate responses. It features new front and rear suspension setups which are unique to the car, resulting in a fun-to-drive character.

Like the exterior, the Stonic’s cabin is based upon European design influences. Smart packaging maximises interior space for all occupants. The cabin offers plenty of space for driver and passengers, while its versatile 352-litre luggage bay features a two-step boot floor that enables owners to expand or shrink the boot as required, and create a flat floor with the rear seats folded down. The Stonic offers the widest boot opening in its class to accommodate larger items.

Priced between Rs 4.95 million and Rs 5.5 million, the Kia Stonic is backed by a warranty of five years or 150,000Km.

Kia Motors (Lanka), which has represented the Kia brand in Sri Lanka since 1996, recently underwent a change in corporate structure. With its new Rs 800 million Logistics Centre in Malabe as the hub for a network of owned subsidiaries and franchised satellite sales, service and spare parts outlets, the new operational structure is designed to drive a new phase of growth for KIA, one of the most popular automobile brands in the country.

October 31, 2017

Kia Motors (Lanka) Managing Director Mr Mahen Thambiah (centre, left) and Autolink Lanka Director Mr Mohamed Sali Najimudeen ceremonially open the new Kia showroom in Kandy

Kia invests in new Car Care Centre in Narahenpita, Colombo 5

Kia wins European Car of the Year, 2 Red Dot Design awards + 8 Travel Safety awards

Sri Lanka distributor begins adoption of Kia’s bold new logo and brand persona

KIA unveils the future of electric mobility with exhilarating EV6

It’s raining SUVs at Kia: enter the all new sporty and confident ‘Stonic’

Kia opens showroom in Kandy