Plug-and-play Kia
First came Kia Motors New Zealand’s launch of the Niro Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models in March, and now the company reports strong interest in the all-electric Niro EV recently unveiled in Korea.
KOREAN CAR maker Kia claims a 480% jump in the value of its brand in seven years because of its R&D and marketing spend.
The ‘100 Best Global Brands 2014’ list values Kia at US$5.4b, up from US$929m in 2007.
The company says the increase in brand value has outpaced the 11 other vehicle makers on the list, and the rate of growth over the past year alone is double the average for all companies in the top 100.
“An increase of that magnitude is outstanding,” says Todd McDonald, general manager of Kia Motors New Zealand.
“The appointment of Peter Schreyer to transform Kia into a design-led company was a brilliant strategy, and there has also been a great deal of investment in aligning Kia with high-profile sporting events and stars. Here in New Zealand we have been able to capitalise on that strategy and drive the profile of the brand, as well as sales, in this market.”
The ‘100 Best Global Brands’ rankings are compiled by US-based brand experts Interbrand. Kia entered the list in 2012 in 83rd place. It has risen to 74th place in the 2014 list.
Says Interbrand, “As a result of its continued branding efforts, expressed in the slogan ‘The Power to Surprise’, the Korean car maker has repositioned itself from an image of affordability, and is now targeting more design-conscious consumers.”
Another Interbrand study released in June showed Kia had risen from 37th to 35th place on the list of ‘50 Best Global Green Brands 2014’.
New Zealand milk production is off to a strong start, with the first month of the 2025/26 dairy season recording a whopping 17.8% jump in milk production, compared to the previous season.
With adverse weather set to rain down on the Top of the South, the Bay of Plenty and parts of Northland, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers, foresters, and growers need to prepare for possible challenges.
Keep up with innovation and e-commerce in China or risk losing market share. That was the message delivered at the China Business Summit in Auckland this month.
Meat Industry Association (MIA) independent chair Nathan Guy says getting meat processors involved has been a shot in the arm for the sector's key marketing initiative into China, Taste Pure Nature.
Listed carpet manufacturer, Bremworth is undertaking a $6 million expansion at its Napier plant more than two years after the site was heavily damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Federated Farmers is vowing to keep the big banks accountable for their actions and to continue pushing for meaningful change in the rural lending sector.
OPINION: Will synthetic milk derail NZ's economy?
OPINION: According to media reports, the eye-watering price of butter has prompted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to ask for a…