Motor Museum / Manufacturers / Kia

Manufacturer history

Kia

—manufacturer era begins

South Koreahome country

0featured cars

34published models

Origins

How the company began.

The founder story explains why the later cars took the form they did.

Manufacturer history

Kia through time.

Read the company as a sequence of engineering, design and business decisions.

Museum catalogue

Every model gets a plaque.

An image on the right, a concise interpretation on the left and a clear statement of why the car belongs in the chronology. Missing images fall back gracefully until you upload the WebP.

1990s

2 models

1994–2001Passenger Car

Sephia

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Sephia

1995–2024Passenger Car

Sportage

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Sportage

2000s

9 models

2000–2009Passenger Car

Spectra

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Spectra

2001–2020Passenger Car

Optima

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Optima

2001–2023Passenger Car

Rio

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Rio

2002–2021Passenger Car

Sedona

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Sedona

2003–2024Passenger Car

Sorento

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Sorento

2004–2009Passenger Car

Amanti

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Amanti

2006Passenger Car

Optima (2006.5)

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Optima (2006.5)

2007–2010Passenger Car

Rondo

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Rondo

2009Passenger Car

Borrego

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Borrego

2010s

13 models

2010–2024Passenger Car

Forte

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Forte

2010–2024Passenger Car

Soul

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Soul

2014–2020Passenger Car

Cadenza

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Cadenza

2015–2016Passenger Car

Forte Koup

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Forte Koup

2015–2018Passenger Car

Forte5

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Forte5

2015–2020Passenger Car

K900

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia K900

2015–2020Passenger Car

Optima Hybrid

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Optima Hybrid

2015–2019Passenger Car

Soul EV

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Soul EV

2017–2024Passenger Car

Niro

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Niro

2017–2020Passenger Car

Optima Plug-in Hybrid

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid

2018–2024Passenger Car

Niro Plug-in Hybrid

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid

2018–2023Passenger Car

Stinger

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Stinger

2019–2024Passenger Car

Niro EV

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Niro EV

2020s

10 models

2020–2024Passenger Car

Telluride

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Telluride

2021–2024Passenger Car

K5

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia K5

2021–2024Passenger Car

Seltos

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Seltos

2021–2024Passenger Car

Sorento Hybrid

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

Kia Sorento Hybrid

2022–2025Passenger Car

Carnival

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Carnival

2022–2024Passenger Car

EV6

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia EV6

2022–2024Passenger Car

Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

2023–2024Passenger Car

Sportage Hybrid

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

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Kia Sportage Hybrid

2023–2024Passenger Car

Sportage Plug-in Hybrid

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid

2024Passenger Car

EV9

Discovery Timeline model-nameplate record. US catalogue observation.

Why it matters: This model forms part of the manufacturer’s evolving road-car chronology.

Open full museum record ↗

Kia EV9