Kia Motors America today welcomed the sophomore class of the brand’s Great Unknowns Scholarship, comprised of 16 first-year college students from across the U.S. The recipients were chosen based on financial need, academic performance, and the demonstrable ways they make a difference by “giving it everything” within their local school systems and communities. This marks the second year of the scholarship, which commenced in 2019 with the unveiling of Kia’s “Give It Everything” philosophy in the U.S.

Since the arrival of the award-winning Telluride last year and the head-turning Seltos in early 2020, Kia Motors America (KMA) has had its sights on building a robust and reimagined SUV line-up. As the next step in this capability-focused product strategy, the all-new 2021 Sorento is poised to bring customers a new level of trail-ready toughness not yet seen from the brand. To celebrate this rugged personality, KMA unveiled a pair of custom-built Sorento SUVs – the Yosemite Edition and the Zion Edition – during the brand’s virtual national dealer meeting this week. The two wilderness-themed SUVs build upon the production Sorento X-Line model, a variant that highlights off-road prowess with unique 20-inch wheels, increased ride height to 8.3-in., improved approach/departure angles, more advanced AWD with snow-mode, and a more robust roof rack than the outgoing Sorento.

The Telluride has been named to Car and Driver’s 10Best list for 2021, marking the second year in a row the big and bold SUV has earned a spot among the esteemed group of vehicles. The highly regarded awards recognize the smartest, most entertaining cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans on sale today.

Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) announces its 2020 ZER01NE Accelerator, an open innovation platform that facilitates collaboration among startups and the Group’s internal teams on various projects. This program discovers valued startups and develops strategic usage possibilities of their innovative technologies.

Hyundai Motor Group and NVIDIA announced today the roll-out of the NVIDIA DRIVE ‘connected car’ platform across all new models from Hyundai, Kia and Genesis from 2022 onwards.

Continuing to shatter records, Kia Motors America posted October sales of 56,094 units, marking both the best-ever total October sales volume and the best-ever October retail sales volume in company history. Kia’s total volume sales posted a 12.2-percent increase and retail sales grew by 18.9-percent over the same period last year. Sales were led by the award-winning Telluride SUV, which set an all-time monthly record of 9,697 units sold. The all new K5 midsize sedan also reached new heights as sales increased for the fourth consecutive month to a best-ever 7,528 units.

Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) today announced it has appointed Luc Donckerwolke to new company position, Chief Creative Officer (CCO). He resumes his career as Executive Vice President and his office will be located at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center.

Kia Motors America has donated a 2020 Niro EV to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in an effort to raise awareness and increase adoption of alternative fuel vehicles. The Niro EV will be used by MIT employees and other authorized individuals for university-related purposes and whenever feasible, the Niro EV will also be included in MIT-sponsored events pertaining to alternative energy or clean energy initiatives. When the vehicle is not is use, MIT’s Information Systems and Technology Department will park the vehicle in various campus locations, therefore drawing attention to alternative fuel vehicles as a normal course of business.

Kia Motors Corporation has appointed Won Kyu Kang as Vice President and Head of the Kia Design Innovation Group. Starting in his new role in November, Mr. Kang will be based at the brand’s design headquarters, Kia Design Center in Namyang, Korea and will report to Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Kia Design Center.

Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) announced today that the fifth Mobility Innovators Forum (MIF) will be virtually hosted by Hyundai CRADLE Silicon Valley from October 29 to 30.

Team Telluriders triumphantly crossed the finish line in the 2020 Telluride in the fifth annual Rebelle Rally, coming in overall second place in the X-Cross class. The powerhouse duo, made up of Alyssa Roenigk (driver) and Sabrina Howells (navigator), demonstrated their “Give it Everything” attitude, using their invaluable set of skills to make smart and calculated decisions tailored to the Telluride’s capability, ultimately allowing it to shine and finish the tough, off-road rally.

The introduction of the all-new 2021 K5 midsize sedan continues as Kia Motors America (KMA) debuts the latest broadcast spot highlighting the dynamic performance, revolutionary design and enhanced safety features of the brand’s most powerful midsize sedan ever.

Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) announced today that Euisun Chung, Executive Vice Chairman, was inaugurated to the position of Chairman of the Group. Chairman Mong-Koo Chung was inaugurated to the position of Honorary Chairman.

“Bring it!” said Alyssa Roenigk, “I’m beyond charged to get going.” Roenigk, a senior writer at sports media giant ESPN, will drive a 2020 Telluride SX in the fifth annual Rebelle Rally, an all-women, off-road navigational challenge held in the deserts of California and Nevada. Starting October 8 in Lake Tahoe, California, the rally will cover 1,500 miles in eight days before reaching the finish line, October 16, in the Imperial Sand Dunes, California. Roenigk’s navigator, Sabrina Howells, has a huge job guiding the team through the course using only old-fashioned paper maps and a compass—no GPS, no cell phones, no digital devices of any kind. “I can’t wait,” Howells said, “I really geek out on this stuff.”

Kia Motors America announced September sales of 55,519 units marking both the best September retail sales and best quarterly retail sales performances.  September sales were led by the Telluride and Sportage SUV models with 8,829 and 7,165 units sold, respectively.