Kia Motors Plan to Enter Indian Car Market
Indian tennis stars, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza, became the first Indians to win a Grand Slam mixed doubles at Australian Open 2009, sponsored by Kia Motors in Melbourne. For Bhupathi, the victory of mixed double Australian Open was his 11th Grand Slam title while Mirza celebrated her first success.
Kias Association with Australian Open
Kia partnered with the Australian Open with a marketing blitz to promote brand awareness and provide impetus for growth. Since its first association with the Australian Open in 2002, Kia motors has continuously been an active part of the tournament and now the company reaffirms its association for the next five years.
Bhupathi and Sania Mirza are the brightest names in the country since the two have become celebrities after the most valuable victory achieved in the final mixed doubles tennis tournament. Today, many car manufacturers take this route to strengthen their presence in the market. Even leading car player like Maruti Suzuki is associated with adventurous sports and tournaments and takes this as an lucrative opportunity for growth. Even Kia Motors follow the same agenda and plans to continue this partnership with Australian Open.
Kia Motors, a subsidiary of Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, is the second largest auto manufacturer in South Korea and was founded in 1944. The company produces more than 1.4 million vehicles per annum in 14 manufacturing operations and assembly across eight countries. All the manufactured vehicles are sold across 165 countries under a wide network of distributors and dealers. In previous years, the company has globally sold more than 1.26 million units. Kia considers the sponsorship of the event as an essential part of its marketing and promotional strategies. This high number of sales at a time when the entire auto industry is in the clutches of recession is commendable. Kia now has the market share of 2.1% in the USA, 1.7% in Europe, 2.5% in China, and 27.3% in Korea.
In the global car market, Kia is likely to launch a slew of new cars including its Forte and Soul. It also plans to introduce an inspiring coupe and a sturdy SUV for the global market. Kia Motors has high plans for India as well. With the winning success of Sania and Bhupathi, Kia Motors plan to enter the Indian car market with a big bang.
