Korean cars have gained popularity recently due to their solid build quality and reliability. If you want to buy a Korean car, you’ll want to choose the right brand.
This list of Korean car brands can help you make that decision! From Hyundai to Kia, let’s go over some of the biggest names in the world of Korean vehicles.
1. Kia
Kia is one of the leading Korean car brands. Founded in 1944, Kia Motors has its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea.
The company’s main divisions are Kia Motors Corporation and Kia Motors Corp, which mainly deal with manufacturing cars, trucks, and construction equipment.
In 2002, by consulting firm Brand Finance, Hyundai Motor Group (including Kia) was ranked second only to General Motors as South Korea’s most valuable brand.
Hyundai-Kia also commands 14% of South Korea’s market share, making it that country’s top automaker since 2008.
2. Hyundai
Hyundai Motor Company is a South Korean multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, Korea. In 2013, Hyundai Motor was ranked as the eighth largest automaker.
The company sold 4.4 million vehicles worldwide in 2012, and with Kia Motors and Hyundai together, worldwide sales were 7.12 million.
As of 2016, Hyundai is one of only three automakers that sell cars in America, Europe, China, and South Korea. Worldwide, it sold more than 5 million vehicles in 2015, with around $114 billion in annual revenue. They are among the best-selling Korean car brands.
3. SsangYong Motor Company
The South Korean company is also one of the biggest Korean car brand automakers and has many models. This makes it an excellent choice if you want to buy a new car.
SsangYong Motor Company started in 1954 when Kyung Sung-tae founded Taegu Tire, which started as just one production line focused on manufacturing truck tires.
Eventually, however, Taegu Tire grew into one of Korea’s biggest tire manufacturers and diversified into manufacturing other tires like passenger cars and heavy machinery.
The business changed its name to SsangYong Motor Company in 1974 when it began focusing on automobiles.
4. GM Korea (Subsidiary)
GM Korea is an automobile manufacturer in South Korea. General Motors formed it, and Kim Jun founded it as the CEO. 2009, GM sold most of its ownership to SAIC, retaining a 40% stake.
Currently, GM holds approximately 18% of GM Daewoo’s ownership, with Fidelity Investments and Nexteel holding about 14% each through their respective investment funds (9%).
SAIC Motor Corporation Limited owns the remaining 52%. It’s one of the Korean car brands that will surprise you with speed.
5. Renault Korea Motors
Renault Korea Motors is an automobile manufacturing company headquartered in Busan, South Korea. It has been part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance since 2001 and is Nissan Group’s fifth-largest global operation.
Renamed from Renault Samsung Motors in March 2010, it was initially established as Samsung Motor Co., Ltd in 1994.
Conclusion
Choosing a brand of vehicle that’s right for you is no easy task. Making such a significant investment can feel daunting, especially if you don’t know what to look for in a vehicle.
Luckily, many Korean car brands have risen above their competitors and have earned praise from critics and consumers alike.
While American and Japanese vehicles are often associated with top-quality cars, Korean automakers like Hyundai and Kia are earning their stripes with drivers looking for value in their cars.
Because we understand how hard it can be to figure out which brands you should trust, we hope our list of Korean car brands will be of help.
