According to a study released by brand consultancy firm Interbrand, Kia Motors Corporation is now a member of the “Top 100 Best Global Brands.”
Kia’s increase in brand value is now estimated at $4.1 billion U.S. which places it in 87th place on the ‘Top 100 Best Global Brands’ list. This represents a 50 per cent increase from last year’s estimated brand value and is significantly greater than the average automotive brand value growth rate of 11 per cent. The 2012 edition of Interbrand’s annual ‘Best Global Brands’ study was executed through a comprehensive brand performance analysis using best practice research methodology by expert analysts. The study measures a corporation’s financial performance in terms of the raw financial return to investors; the role that a brand plays in the actual purchase decision; and brand strength, which is the ability of a brand to secure the delivery of expected future earnings.
The increase in Kia’s brand value mirrors a recent surge in global sales, which have posted three consecutive double-digit year-on-year gains. As a result, at present, Kia represents the world’s fastest growing major automotive brand. Over this three-year period (2008-2011), Kia’s annual global sales have grown by 81 per cent to nearly 2.5 million units.
Claire Chai, Vice President of Kia Motors Corp. Marketing Division, said, “Entering the ‘Top 100 Best Global Brands’ validates Kia’s commitment to continuously provide exciting and inspiring brand experiences.”
