Kia wins in Automotive Brand Contest

Kia has scooped four awards in the first-ever Automotive Brand Contest. Organized and promoted by the German Design Council, the new international brand and design competition announced the winners on 22 July.

The Automotive Brand Contest honors achievements in the fields of brand management, brand communication and design in the automotive area. In the Brand Design category, where strategy and focus of the brand's overall design is rated, Kia won the award for 'Best of Best'.

"The 'Best of Best' title for Kia's new design identity in the Brand Design category is a great endorsement of the creative and professional work done by our entire international design team, said Peter Schreyer, Kia's chief designer.

"By changing our basic design focus, we have given our brand a face, a distinctive identity," he added.

For the exterior category, three Kia models were chosen as winners: the Sportage SUV, the new D-segment Optima and the Rio, which is due to launch in September this year.

The winners of the new competition will be presented with their awards at the Frankfurt motor show on Automotive Designers' Night on September 13.

By Rufus Thompson