Kia Ends Year With Record Sales

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 3, 2003; Kia achieved record sales numbers in 2002 with a 6.1 percent increase over 2001. The company sold 14,625 vehicles in December, bringing Kia's year-to-date sales to 237,345.

"We're very pleased to once again announce a new record for year-end sales for the eighth straight year," said Peter M. Butterfield, Kia president and chief executive officer. "Last year marked the launch of our new mid-size SUV, the Sorento, and we're looking forward to an even more successful 2003 as we continue to build brand awareness about our expanded product line and implement our retail enhancement program, Kia Circle of Excellence."

Kia Motors America is the U.S. sales, marketing and service arm of Kia Motors Corp. in Seoul, South Korea.

                            MONTH OF DECEMBER              YEAR-TO-DATE
     Model                  2002          2001          2002         2001
     Optima                1,584          2,838        26,793       25,912
     Rio                   2,502          3,870        51,195       51,541
     Sedona                2,185          2,493        39,088       15,070
     Spectra               3,734          5,160        72,382       78,835
     Sportage              1,904          3,004        39,436       52,369
     Sorento               2,716           n/a          8,451        n/a

     Total                14,625         17,365       237,345      223,727*
     * This total reflects an additional six company cars that were sold in
       2001.


                       Total U.S. Sales of Kia Vehicles

                        1994         1995       1996       1997      1998
     January             605        1,227      1,508      2,624     7,197
     February            626        1,053      1,887      2,529     6,196
     March               638        1,309      2,197      3,093     6,082
     April               714        1,256      2,300      3,541     5,530
     May               1,010        1,907      3,481      4,917     6,301
     June              1,053        1,665      4,401      3,992     9,215
     July              1,106        2,662      3,241      5,024    10,095
     August            1,368        2,881      4,229      6,321     8,016
     September         1,528        2,729      3,780      7,123     7,355
     October           1,207        2,437      3,797      5,913     8,634
     November          1,156        2,640      3,174      5,317     4,730
     December          1,152        2,974      2,279      4,931     3,542

     Total            12,163       24,740     36,274     55,325    82,893


                         1999        2000       2001       2002
     January            9,461       8,143     12,513     16,574
     February           6,703      11,392     12,665     17,509
     March             11,400      12,729     19,159     21,478
     April             10,606      12,422     16,060     20,366
     May               12,795      13,709     20,048     22,790
     June              13,593      16,140     21,188     22,498
     July              13,136      12,300     19,405     23,061
     August            13,138      16,454     23,276     23,564
     September         11,846      16,438     20,585     18,179
     October           10,641      13,726     24,523     17,960
     November          11,820      12,643     16,940     18,741
     December           9,455      14,510     17,365     14,625

     Total            134,594     160,606    223,727    237,345