Kia Motors America Receives California Excellence Award From Small Business Institute For Excellence In Commerce

Award Recognizes Kia's Commitment to Customers and Community

-SBIEC California Excellence Award recipients determined by panel of industry executives and consultants

-Kia recognized for upholding business ethics and core company values

IRVINE, CA--June 12, 2013: Kia Motors America (KMA) is a 2013 recipient of the prestigious Small Business Institute for Excellence in Commerce (SBIEC) California Excellence Award, which recognizes companies that have enhanced the commitment and contribution of small businesses through service to their customers and community. A panel of industry executives and consultants ultimately selected Kia amongst peers and competitors after year-long industry research and business surveys.

The SBIEC California Excellence Award highlights businesses that enhance the high-powered, consumer-driven character unique to California. Special emphasis is given to companies that meet and exceed industry benchmarks for product quality, customer service and ethical practices. SBIEC encourages independent enterprise and entrepreneurial growth with the goal of local and international recognition for businesses of all sizes.

"Kia is dedicated to providing the best quality products and impeccable service, and our customer-driven corporate culture is central to our core values," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of marketing & communications, KMA. "We constantly strive to become a more respected corporate citizen on both the local and international level. We believe Kia's pursuit of this goal truly represents the spirit of the 2013 California Excellence Award, and we are honored to be a recipient this year."

Kia Motors America is one of only three auto brands to increase U.S. sales in each of the past four years, and in 2012 the company surpassed the 500,000 unit mark for the first time. With a full line of fun-to-drive cars and CUVs, Kia is advancing value to new levels of sophistication by combining European-influenced styling -- under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer -- with cutting-edge technologies, premium amenities, affordable pricing and the lowest cost of ownership in the industry. Kia recently joined the exclusive ranks of Interbrand's "Top 100 Best Global Brands," and is poised to continue its momentum with seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles scheduled to arrive in showrooms in 2013.

Over the past decade Kia Motors has invested more than $1.4 billion in the U.S., including the company's first U.S. assembly plant in West Point, Georgia -- Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia -- which is responsible for the creation of more than 11,000 plant and supplier jobs. The success of the U.S.-built* Optima and Sorento in two of the industry's largest segments has fueled Kia's rapid growth and is complemented by Kia's comprehensive lineup which includes the Cadenza flagship sedan, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima Hybrid, the Forte sedan, 5-door and Koup compacts, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and the Sedona minivan.