Kia was founded in Korea in 1944. Back then, though, they primarily made parts for bicycles. They soon launched their own bicycles, including motorized scooters. By the 1960s, they started to include motorcycles and small three wheeled trucks in their lineup, which helped the company grow even more. In the 1970s, they began to produce automobiles, with some models becoming very popular quickly. They still weren't available in cities like Chicago, though.
In the 1980s, Ford released one of Kias vehicles in the US under the Ford Festiva and Ford Aspire. The 90s brought a surge in interest for SUVs. This didn't get by Kia, who brought out the Kia Sportage in 1995, which settled their American invasion. In 1998, the company was bought by Hyundia, the other major Korean auto maker. This was a good thing for the company, though, which saw them being able to release several other models. By the 21st century, you could get a Kia in Chicago to fit any style or budget.
Kia had complaints about reliability sometimes in the early years, but they've worked hard to listen to their customers and get the problems fixed, which is why they're still around and doing so well today. If you drive around Chicago on any afternoon, you're likely to see at least one if not more Kias on the road. Having something available for every price range is one of the reasons they've survived in the tough auto market so long.
If you're looking for used Kias, use the drop-down below to refine your search for local Chicago Kia deals.
