World Auto News & Reviews

Kia Motors Australia has announced that Mr Tony Barlow will join the company as Chief Operating Officer on September 1.

Mr Barlow has been involved in the automotive industry for more than two decades, with extensive senior management experience both in Australia and overseas.

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When Kia Motors unveiled its EcoDynamics sub-brand at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the company claimed its new badge would begin to appear on U.S.-bound models soon. In fact, Kia promised that its eco-friendly moniker would be attached to several models sold worldwide. Now, Orth Hedrick, director-product planning at Kia Motors America, tells Ward’s Auto that the company has nixed plans to introduce the EcoDynamics name in the U.S. Hedrick cited cost issues as the primary reason for the company’s reversal, stating:

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Kia Motors will continue its tradition of unveiling convention-challenging and design-led concept vehicles at motor shows when it reveals an all-new electric concept car at the Paris Motor Show on the 30th September.

Called the ‘POP’, Kia’s latest concept car boasts zero-emissions – whilst in use – and at three metres long, yet with a three seat layout, brings innovative design chic and dramatic styling to the city car segment.
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that it has opened a preliminary inquiry into possible steering loss on the 2010 Kia Soul. Surprisingly the NHTSA has received just one complaint on the vehicle that claims “the steering shaft de-coupled from the hand wheel resulting in a complete loss of steering capability.” The complaint goes on to say that “the de-coupled steering shaft reportedly fell into a position that interfered with brake pedal application.”

The NHTSA says it is concerned about the steering failure occurred without warning on a 2-month old vehicle. A “preliminary evaluation” is NHTSA’s first step in a process that may or may not lead to a recall.
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Kia Motors Corporation today announced its global sales growth of 49.2% in the first half of 2010, based on shipment volume of 990,000 units, compared to the same period last year. Export market sales, as well as domestic sales, increased significantly due to the continuous launch of new models onto the global marketplace, including Kia Cadenza, Forte (Cerato), all-new Sorento and all-new Sportage.
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