AUTO EXPRESS COMPANY OF THE PAST 30 YEARS KIA

THE automotive industry is what academics might call mature. There’s a known cycle of product launches and brands are well defined. So it takes a rather special organisation to launch as an unashamedly budget brand, then turn itself into a genuinely desirable marque – with a warranty that still leads the market.

In less than 30 years, Kia has grown from a small import business to a mainstream player in the UK. It has transformed its product lineup from the cheap and cheerful Pride, to one encompassing fabulous SUVS and a sports saloon to rattle the premium establishment.

And owners love them; two Kias ranked in the top 10 cars in the Driver Power 2018 satisfaction survey, with the Niro rated best small SUV to own.

Buyers love the reassurance of Kia’s market-leading, seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty, too. And the importance of appointing former Audi design chief Peter Schreyer as chief design officer back in 2006 can’t be overstated.

Paul Philpott, president and chief executive at Kia Motors (UK) Limited, said: “It is extremely flattering to receive this accolade. As Auto Express was being established, Kia was facing down the barrel of bankruptcy in Korea due to