Concept car heralds new local brand for Kia's Chinese joint venture operations

- “Horki” name blends “harmony and driving”

- New concept purely for Chinese market

- Built on existing all-new Cerato (Forte) platform

(SEOUL) April 20, 2013 – Kia Motors Corporation's joint venture in China, Dongfeng Yueda Kia (DYK), has unveiled a new Chinese-market concept and a new local brand name at the Shanghai Motor Show.

Unveiled on the joint venture’s show stand, DYK has announced the new brand will be called “Horki” which combines two Chinese characters, “Hor” signifying China and “Ki” signifying driving. Together the word suggests harmony and driving. The brand also revealed a China-market only concept which is based on Kia's all-new Cerato (Forte) platform.

Kia announced that the new brand is aimed at better meeting the specific needs of Chinese customers and will allow Kia Motors and its joint venture to follow a dual brand strategy with clear distinction between the passion, sportiness and style of Kia products and the practical, economic and trustworthiness of the planned Horki vehicles.

It was also announced that the new brand would make its first appearance on the Chinese market during the second half of 2015 with vehicles produced at one of the joint venture’s three Yancheng factories.

No final decision on mass production of the debuted concept car has yet been made. Horki’s product portfolio will be comprised of a range of vehicles, including an alternative powered one. Further details will be announced later.