Kia still not doing a good enough job with marketing.

[P22Tyler]

So I went to the International Auto Expo here in Utah last weekend, and was hoping above all hope that Kia would actually bring a Stinger and a Telluride for people to drive to show them what they're all about, nope.

I know that Utah isn't the biggest market, maybe in other markets they had test drives, but come on Kia. How much would it cost you to let people drive these cars versus the exposure you would get from people finding out how fun they are? I know a lot of us here, me included, never gave Kia a look before the Stinger and were blown away by the car when we rode in it. It certainly changed my perception of them as a brand. And now my wife is in love with the Telluride and is intent on making it her next vehicle purchase. If Ford can bring an entire fleet of vehicles, as well as a huge team and their own big tent when they're a known brand, I feel like Kia can afford to bring a few cars.

I found the one person they had manning their entire operation, and questioned him about it and he had no answers. I then went on to sell the Stinger to a couple who were thinking about giving up their Mini's but didn't know if they would enjoy the Stinger, if it would have the acceleration of their Minis, which is such an indictment of Kia's failure to market it IMO, that someone wouldn't know how much faster the Stinger is than a Mini. It wasn't hard to sell the car to couple, I'm not sure why Kia seems to struggle with it so much. I guess if Kia is not that concerned about it I'm not sure why I am, I just love the Stinger. It just seems like a huge missed opportunity to me. Either way, I'll take my commission check in the mail, Kia.

 

[Waynerm002]

I share your feeling on this, as well as a lot of folks on here. However, I believe their focus is on the SUV/CUV market at present. The Telluride has made a huge impact for them, which I believe they did not anticipate. New is that they will have to ramp up production to keep pace with demand, the same happened with the Seltos in India and I suspect that will be the case here as well. The problem in India was that they didn't have enough spare parts available to repair vehicles involved in accidents. Here they released the vehicle early in the mode year and sold out much faster than expected. This is a good thing but also could spell trouble if, like the Seltos, they don't have spare parts available. Let's hope they remedy this soon.

 

[Patmir]

At least Kia was present at your auto show, the SC International Auto Show has never had Kia motors present. This was only the second year Hyundai was there. Plenty of Toyota’s, Chevrolet and Honda’s. I did test drive a 58k gladiator and a 67k Ram Rebel.
Also noteworthy, they are not offering the free year of motor trend, print or digital.

 

[SKStinger]

At least Kia was present at your auto show, the SC International Auto Show has never had Kia motors present. This was only the second year Hyundai was there. Plenty of Toyota’s, Chevrolet and Honda’s. I did test drive a 58k gladiator and a 67k Ram Rebel.
Also noteworthy, they are not offering the free year of motor trend, print or digital.

Agreed. I went to Barrett Jackson last year in Scottsdale AZ and no Kia or Hyundai exhibit. I didn’t even have someone to question as to why they didn’t have a Stinger there!

 

[MerlintheMad]

The Telluride has made a huge impact for them, which I believe they did not anticipate.

No one can know the future, but the fact that the Telluride will be increased to 100K vehicles next year says to me that Kia was prepared in case their hopes were realized.

OP: a test drive vehicle is a loss leader proposition. I bet that the return on providing test drive vehicles is in the negative, i.e. the test drivers are basically considered a write off. That's expensive. When a dealership handles the cost that is best. But a display vehicle or two shouldn't be that expensive to set up. I'm guessing that your original explanation is right: Utah is not considered a prime market, so Kia invests where it is most likely to produce results worth the expense.

 

[P22Tyler]

I share your feeling on this, as well as a lot of folks on here. However, I believe their focus is on the SUV/CUV market at present. The Telluride has made a huge impact for them, which I believe they did not anticipate. New is that they will have to ramp up production to keep pace with demand, the same happened with the Seltos in India and I suspect that will be the case here as well. The problem in India was that they didn't have enough spare parts available to repair vehicles involved in accidents. Here they released the vehicle early in the mode year and sold out much faster than expected. This is a good thing but also could spell trouble if, like the Seltos, they don't have spare parts available. Let's hope they remedy this soon.

I get that, which is why I didn't get them not even having a Telluride for people to drive. Just seems like another missed opportunity for them.

 

[P22Tyler]

At least Kia was present at your auto show, the SC International Auto Show has never had Kia motors present. This was only the second year Hyundai was there. Plenty of Toyota’s, Chevrolet and Honda’s. I did test drive a 58k gladiator and a 67k Ram Rebel.
Also noteworthy, they are not offering the free year of motor trend, print or digital.

That's surprising. I wonder how they come to the decision of where they're going and where they aren't.

 

[P22Tyler]

No one can know the future, but the fact that the Telluride will be increased to 100K vehicles next year says to me that Kia was prepared in case their hopes were realized.

OP: a test drive vehicle is a loss leader proposition. I bet that the return on providing test drive vehicles is in the negative, i.e. the test drivers are basically considered a write off. That's expensive. When a dealership handles the cost that is best. But a display vehicle or two shouldn't be that expensive to set up. I'm guessing that your original explanation is right: Utah is not considered a prime market, so Kia invests where it is most likely to produce results worth the expense.

I find it hard to believe that it's a negative for them. I don't think they have a vehicle for each market, they travel with the show to different markets. That's not to say that they have one car that travels the entire country, but that they don't send a new car to every show so that's one way to save some money. The loss of a the value on a vehicle they let people drive surely pales in comparison to the value of bringing in new customers, and for a brand like Kia getting people in the seat is a difference maker. I know a lot of people that still think Kia is a joke until they ride in my car, and as I said I didn't think much of them until I drove the Stinger. Beyond all that I don't see why these vehicles couldn't be sold as demo vehicles so if they wanted to sell it they could really minimize any loss, if not eliminate it.

And frankly I would consider Utah to be a pretty good market for trying to sell a new SUV. A lot of people here drive newer vehicles and a lot of them have big families or simply want a big SUV. But that's another discussion.

But obviously I'm not privy to all the information, I just don't give Kia the benefit of the doubt with how poorly they've marketed these vehicles so far.

 

[MerlintheMad]

But obviously I'm not privy to all the information, I just don't give Kia the benefit of the doubt with how poorly they've marketed these vehicles so far.

Outlier experiences like mine (no TV, no magazines, etc.) can't be held up as indicative of what works.

But Kia is far from broke and is growing year by year. So, economizing can't be the reason for no test vehicles at the auto show. I think that their approach with the Stinger was never to sell bunches of these, but to appeal to the "word spreaders", i.e. the car guys, gearheads and enthusiasts who rate these things: there, the Stinger got almost universal acclaim. "Free advertising", or advertising for a song. Get enough cars on the road and Kia's rep goes up without having to sell a lot of them. The Stinger is in most dealerships, in prominent spots. It's looks draws attention. It advertises itself that way.

 

[Helo58]

The problem in India was that they didn't have enough spare parts available to repair vehicles involved in accidents. Here they released the vehicle early in the mode year and sold out much faster than expected. This is a good thing but also could spell trouble if, like the Seltos, they don't have spare parts available. Let's hope they remedy this soon.

Not having replacement or repair parts for your new car is a quick way to sour a buyer on the brand. AMHIK... No one who buys a car to enjoy relishes it sitting in a garage while they drive a sub-par rental or loaner. My personal experience was that I waited approximately one month for my LSD to arrive and 5 days for the audio unit. It gives the buyer the sense that Kia is just disorganized despite their actual reasons for not having the parts.

 

[Michael Weitzhandler]

They should also be doing fleet sales to introduce Stingers & Tellurides to the public. I know often what has attracted me to a particular vehicle is that I have had it as a business or vacation rental & I really liked the vehicle.

 

[SKStinger]

They should also be doing fleet sales to introduce Stingers & Tellurides to the public. I know often what has attracted me to a particular vehicle is that I have had it as a business or vacation rental & I really liked the vehicle.

Interesting. I usually have the opposite experience which has helped me steer clear of certain vehicles. The learning is valuable either way.

 

[Michael Weitzhandler]

Interesting. I usually have the opposite experience which has helped me steer clear of certain vehicles. The learning is valuable either way.

Yup, that too... Once I rented a POS Ford Focus. One of the worst cars I’ve ever driven.....

 

[Patmir]

That's surprising. I wonder how they come to the decision of where they're going and where they aren't.

I’ve always wondered how they decide, maybe it’s up to the manufacturers that deem an area worthwhile? One year Range Rover was there and they had plenty of people checking out their vehicles.

 

[P22Tyler]

I’ve always wondered how they decide, maybe it’s up to the manufacturers that deem an area worthwhile? One year Range Rover was there and they had plenty of people checking out their vehicles.

Yeah, we didn't have Lincoln this year but we did last year. Even though Ford brings a big tent a fleet of vehicles every year.

 

[Patmir]

Yeah, we didn't have Lincoln this year but we did last year. Even though Ford brings a big tent a fleet of vehicles every year.

We did have Lincoln present this year however they kept the vehicles locked? Too bad as that 77k Aviator looked really nice inside.

 

[JMP]

Part of me likes that Kia does not sell a lot of Stingers. Selfishly, I don't want to see one on every corner. My wife drives a Wrangler..... she has carpal tunnel from having to give the 2 finger jeep salute so often LOL

With that said, I am starting to see a lot of Tellurides on the road. I have a feeling this one will be a hit for Kia

 

[Michael Weitzhandler]

Part of me likes that Kia does not sell a lot of Stingers. Selfishly, I don't want to see one on every corner. My wife drives a Wrangler..... she has carpal tunnel from having to give the 2 finger jeep salute so often LOL

With that said, I am starting to see a lot of Tellurides on the road. I have a feeling this one will be a hit for Kia

 

[Michael Weitzhandler]

They are calling them "sell you rides" because they are selling so well. Evidently dealerships sell them on average within a week of receiving them and Kia cannot keep up with the demand.

 

[ScottM]

Yup, that too... Once I rented a POS Ford Focus. One of the worst cars I’ve ever driven.....

Hey, you calm down talking trash about one of my previous rides!! Well, I mean you are right though. I'm so conflicted on how I feel about this.