The two big names in Korean-made cars are Kia and Hyundai. The Korean car-making industry is currently the fifth largest in the world. The biggest car names made in Korea are the Hyundai Accent, one of the most popular small cars, Kia Rio and the Kia Ceed, also big selling compact cars. The Kia Picanto was recently named Britain’s most reliable new car when it was released in March this year. Daewoo cars are also manufactured in Korea, and although they are not as well known, are still good sellers. A lot of commercial vehicles, such as vans and lorries, are also made in Korea by Kia and Daewoo. Daewoo has recently changed its name to GM Korea and is now manufacturing cars and car parts mostly for the Chevrolet brand.
Korea came to prevalence as a car manufacturer in the 1960s, as brands such as Mazda and Toyota were produced there under licensing after several automotive companies sprung up. The industry there began as more of an assembling plant, importing the parts from other countries and assembling the cars in Korea. Later on the country began to produce its own cars from scratch. The first one was the Hyundai Pony, which was designed and built in Korea. It was also the first Korean car to be exported to another country. The industry kept growing and in the 1990s imports to the USA were over one million, a huge success.
Many of the exported cars have also won numerous and various awards in the countries they were exported to.
Many of the big names on the British market today have at least some parts made in Korea, for example BMW and other large manufacturers have parts such as windscreen wipers, dashboards and even engines made in Korea.
Korea came to prevalence as a car manufacturer in the 1960s, as brands such as Mazda and Toyota were produced there under licensing after several automotive companies sprung up. The industry there began as more of an assembling plant, importing the parts from other countries and assembling the cars in Korea. Later on the country began to produce its own cars from scratch. The first one was the Hyundai Pony, which was designed and built in Korea. It was also the first Korean car to be exported to another country. The industry kept growing and in the 1990s imports to the USA were over one million, a huge success.
Many of the exported cars have also won numerous and various awards in the countries they were exported to.
Many of the big names on the British market today have at least some parts made in Korea, for example BMW and other large manufacturers have parts such as windscreen wipers, dashboards and even engines made in Korea.
