By Hyoung-Keun (hank) Lee
President
Kia Motors Corporation
Congratulations Kia BUZZ on your second birthday! It feels like just yesterday that we celebrated its launch on September 3, 2007.
Kia BUZZ debuted as the first blog introduced by a Korean company targeting a global audience. It was hailed as a model example of corporate communication and attracted attention from media sources and bloggers around the world. Today, Kia BUZZ is visited by bloggers from 170 countries. I thank the visitors, Kia bloggers and the Kia BUZZ team for their interest and effort in continue the dialogue on this platform.
These days I start off each day at the office by reading Kia BUZZ, along with several other auto industry blogs. Catching up on all the diverse news and posts from Kia headquarters and our overseas subsidiaries, as well as the comments left by bloggers, inspires me and gives me valuable insight into what we can do to improve on our products and business.
Over the past two years, I have witnessed Kia BUZZ grow beyond a global communication hub for Kia that is visited by bloggers, industry insiders and customers around the world. Instead, I feel BUZZ is a channel for dialogue that allows us to listen to the honest voices of bloggers, consumers, drivers and fans.
One of the voices we’ve heard is the importance of hybrid technology. This is indeed a topic currently challenging the auto industry as governments around the world announce plans to tighten environmental regulations. Kia has devoted years of R&D into eco-friendly cars that cater to both environmental and customer needs – and have an R&D facility dedicated only to Earth-friendly technology. The first product of those efforts is the recently unveiled Cerato (Forte) LPI Hybrid.
We’ve also heard over the years that Kia needs great designs and improved quality. I like to think that our Innovative designs and improvements in quality have fueled our makeover and Kia is currently enjoying worldwide popularity with vehicles like the new Soul, Cerato (Forte), cee’d and Sorento. There is also great anticipation around the European B-segment MPV, Venga, that will soon be fully revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month.
Let me take this opportunity to thank all of Kia’s employees who have worked tirelessly at sales points, R&D centers and plants, as well as the customers and bloggers who supported us along the way with messages of encouragement through this blog.
In a world where change is the only constant, the keywords for businesses are “conversation” and “engagement.” This is true not only for automakers but for most companies in general- to build mutual trust and loyalty between them and their customers amid unforeseeable changes in economic, social and cultural environments.
As such, I hope that Kia BUZZ will continue to bring you all the information you want and need on our activities around the world, but also shed light on the latest trends in the industry. We will always be open to your opinions and advice at Kia and through Kia BUZZ.
Happy birthday, Kia BUZZ!
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September 3rd, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Happy B-Day Kia BUZZ!!
September 6th, 2009 at 4:35 am
Congratulations! This blog was a really good way of reaching out to your fans and helping consumers and fans get right in touch with Kia main.
The optima and carens in the UAE have a 2.0L 4cyl engine as opposed to the 2.4 used in US models. I would like to know if 2.0L is from the thetaII engine range or if its another model. also, it would be really good to have the competitive 2.4 in this market.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:57 am
If you read all the buzz, there is a demand for a Hybrid Minivan. Why is it that no companies offer a Hybrid Minivan for sale in the U.S.? From all the research out there it would have the lead marketshare within the first year of sales. If Auto Companies are truly concerned about the environment AND lagging sales from the Economy, why not offer this almost guaranteed best seller?
September 7th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Thanks, Himi!
September 7th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Regarding to your question, you are right. 2.0L 4-cylinder engine is Theta 2 engine. And we are considering introducing 2.4L Theta 2 engine in Middle East countries in near future.
September 7th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Hi Scott,
Thanks for your comments and suggestion.
We at Kia consider the full range of vehicle segments in our line-up as candidates for future commecialized hybrid vehicles, but as of now we have no plans to introduce a hybrid version of a minivan.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
My congratulations!
This blog bring KIA brand much closer to customers.
It’s first place, were i can talk with real engineers and managers. Of course it is big pleasure for me.
Thank you for blog!
Thank you for vehicles!
September 15th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Thanks, Alexey!
We always appreciate our bloggers’ ideas and opinions. Please have fun and we look forward to future comments you’d like to share about Kia BUZZ or our products
Thanks,
Colin
September 28th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Just about to buy a Kia Rondo here in Canada… and thanks for bringing this car to market here in CDA… am switching from a ford escape (2009) largely as this car has carry 7 person capability and is urban friendly…
1 thing you guys missed, all of the ex v6 luxury items should be made available in the ex premium model. The price point should reflect the power train upgrade, 5 speed tranny would give the theta II engine (the inline 4 on the ex premium I refer to) enough breathing space to give better fuel economy.. this would simply knock the Mazda5 out of the water… really like what you guys are doing.. would never have bought a Korean car.. but you seem to be the only company that actually listens to its clients/consumers… and that speaks volumes.
Regards,
S.
October 8th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Felicidades¡¡¡
Congratualations, I always read this page and feel the pride to be a kia member, how ever, why dont write in spanish for one time?
Thank for this site
October 12th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Hola Concha ~ Gracias por su mensaje. Nos gustaría escribir en español, o en otros idiomas, pero hemos tomado la decisión de escribir solo en ingles en este blog para poder ser más accesible a nuestros clientes de varios países. Aún, comentarios en otros idiomas son bienvenidos!
Mas informacion sobre Kia BUZZ aqui: http://kia-buzz.com/?page_id=18
Translation:
Hello Concha ~ Thank you for your message. We would like to write in Spanish, or in other languages, but we have made the decision to write in English for this blog to be more accessible to clients from around the world. However, comments in other languages are welcome!
For more information on the Kia BUZZ, please visit: