Conspiracy theory

[Bwebb]

So I’ve been thinking about the small differences in the models between the different regions. To me it naturally seems to create more confusion than anything and seems to be a strange way for Kia to make money.
So I thought some more and I have a theory. All of these cars already offer a great value proposition and I have read that this car is more about furthering brand perception than making money.
However Kia could very well make some decent money on selling parts to those of us wishing to add items from other markets. One example is the cup holders that I feel many of us comfortable with customizing our cars would buy, at what I believe to be a sizable markup. All of these parts are already designed and being produced for one of their models in at least one region. This wouldn’t be a huge windfall but it could supplement Kia’s profits enough to make a difference. Just my conspiracy theorist at work. Or am I just crazy?

 

[AV8R]

So I’ve been thinking about the small differences in the models between the different regions. To me it naturally seems to create more confusion than anything and seems to be a strange way for Kia to make money.
So I thought some more and I have a theory. All of these cars already offer a great value proposition and I have read that this car is more about furthering brand perception than making money.
However Kia could very well make some decent money on selling parts to those of us wishing to add items from other markets. One example is the cup holders that I feel many of us comfortable with customizing our cars would buy, at what I believe to be a sizable markup. All of these parts are already designed and being produced for one of their models in at least one region. This wouldn’t be a huge windfall but it could supplement Kia’s profits enough to make a difference. Just my conspiracy theorist at work. Or am I just crazy?

Would be ok if the accessories were available to buy pre sale. I thought I was getting the lights that change colour in dash and doors but no.

 

[Gdank]

You are crazy .... it's simpler to think Kia stripped different options from different regions based on what someone told them the local market wanted or didn't want. They then priced squeezed the cars locally to give what they believed the market wanted., for the price they wanted to sell at.

Yes I'm sure there are some people that what a wireless charger, but probably a study somewhere said american's considered this at the bottom of their wish list.

However saying that ... they probably got the Study from 1987.

Because Blue is the 4th most popular colour in the UK (behind Black/White/Silver) .... and we didn't get either blue! However we get yellow as standard ... and that's the LEAST popular colour in the UK (although it does mean almost everyone will upgrade their paint for £650).

In addition SUV's and AWD/4WD cars are selling 1 or for every other type of car, so 50% of all sales! Yet we didn't' get an AWD drive option.

It doesn't really matter in the long run, anyone willing to buy a Stinger in it's first year accept and want to be part of the Early Adopters and will accept any compromise to be a part of that. Like me ... I've accepted I won't get a blue unless I Wrap it ... and I won't get an AWD version. However there is always the option in a couple or few years, if there are more options then I can trade in

 

[Bwebb]

The sheer amount differences boggles me. I mean even the floor mats are different for rhd and lhd rwd vehicles in different regions. Some say gt in red while the US ones leave the gt off completely. Unless they are using region specific suppliers for accessory parts I don’t understand how this saves money. Wouldn’t it be cheaper to make all one style. Same thread, same material. Different pattern for lhd and rhd

 

[Clearly Canadian]

You are crazy .... it's simpler to think Kia stripped different options from different regions based on what someone told them the local market wanted or didn't want. They then priced squeezed the cars locally to give what they believed the market wanted., for the price they wanted to sell at.

Yes I'm sure there are some people that what a wireless charger, but probably a study somewhere said american's considered this at the bottom of their wish list.

However saying that ... they probably got the Study from 1987.

Because Blue is the 4th most popular colour in the UK (behind Black/White/Silver) .... and we didn't get either blue! However we get yellow as standard ... and that's the LEAST popular colour in the UK (although it does mean almost everyone will upgrade their paint for £650).

In addition SUV's and AWD/4WD cars are selling 1 or for every other type of car, so 50% of all sales! Yet we didn't' get an AWD drive option.

It doesn't really matter in the long run, anyone willing to buy a Stinger in it's first year accept and want to be part of the Early Adopters and will accept any compromise to be a part of that. Like me ... I've accepted I won't get a blue unless I Wrap it ... and I won't get an AWD version. However there is always the option in a couple or few years, if there are more options then I can trade in

I agree with this perspective. As with all businesses everybody has an opinion from sales, marketing, and the head honcho who’s sometimes stuck in the past and is 2 years away from retirement.

It appears to me that Kia global predefined the areas of flexibility and allowed each national Kia to make decisions on features/cost to hit targets as @Gdank suggests.

As with all things that happen behind the veil, we all would have done things a little differently but someone somewhere had to make some tough decisions knowing that they won’t be able to make everyone completely happy.

But we must be at least somewhat happy or we wouldn’t be here, right?

 

[ScottE]

I agree with Gdank, it's just stripping down options to better the margins while keeping MSRP in Kia's target for each market. It's a new car and manufacturing costs will come down - and more options in the future. That's my read, anyway...

 

[StingerGT68]

I actually found the lack of configurations kind of refreshing. Building my base GT on the Kia site was so dang simple:
AWD? Check
Drive Wise? Check
....
Done!

 

[mldavis2]

I actually found the lack of configurations kind of refreshing. Building my base GT on the Kia site was so dang simple:
AWD? Check
Drive Wise? Check
....
Done!

Exactly what I did. Car due March 1.