Following the Scottish Car of the Year Awards 2019, Kia Motors (UK) Limited has seen success across a range of Kia models, securing a triple win within three of the award categories. In addition, Kia were also strong contenders in two other categories, only just missing out on the top spot.
For those that don’t know, the Scottish Car of the Year Awards celebrates the automotive industry as the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers recognise manufacturers in various categories. Alongside this, there are four other special awards including the Eco Award, Used Car of the Year Award, Design and Innovation Award and the President’s Award.
Within this year’s awards, the Sportage was named ‘Used Car of the Year’ for the second year in a row. As Kia’s best-selling model, the Sportage continues to excel in reliability and functionality, frequently being recognised within the industry as both a new and used model. This year alone, the Sportage has come top in numerous used car categories such as the AM awards, the Auto Express Driver Power Survey and the What Car? Used Car awards.
The ProCeed won ‘Estate Car of the Year’, and was praised for its combination of style and practicality. The Kia ProCeed diverges from other models in the Ceed family line-up with a series of changes designed to introduce a sportier ambience to the exterior and interior. It seeks to provide drivers with agile and immediate handling responses, close body control under cornering, and a blend of comfort and unwavering stability at high speeds.
Furthermore, the President’s Award, one the additional special awards for this year, was won by Steve Kitson, Director of Corporate Communications at Kia Motors UK. Having previously held the position of Director of International Communications with Hyundai Motors in Seoul, Steve joined Kia Motors UK in 2004. With over fifteen years at the company, Steve helped in taking Kia from anonymity with annual sales volumes of just 25,000 to a 2018 record of 95,717 and a solid position as one of the fastest growing brands in the UK new car market.
Steve commented to MotorMartin recently that: “Kia has truly excelled at the awards this year. It’s fantastic to see such an array of Kia models being celebrated, whether they be used models such as the Sportage or new models like the ProCeed. Recognition by motoring groups such as the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers is hugely important to us and we hope to continue producing award-winning vehicles.”
Kia were also runners-up in two other special award categories. The e-Niro was a contender for the ‘Alternative Fuel Award’ while Kia was also a strong nominee for the ‘Design and Innovation Award’.
It continues to be an upward trajectory for Kia here in the UK.
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