Reinventing the Kia brand - Video

[westcoastGT]

This is a great strategic overview of what they want to do. I just kept asking myself , what about your dealers ? There is such a huge disconnect between this vision and their current dealership experience ....................good on you Kia ! Keep pushing the boundaries !

Kia teases several of its upcoming electric vehicles

It plans to release seven EVs by 2027.

ca.movies.yahoo.com

 

[colnago1331]

Keep in mind that this is a new direction for Kia; and while it may have started in 2018 with the Stinger, I don't think Kia really had confidence in itself until the Telluride came along and wowed everyone. The latter has been far more successful than the Stinger, at least here in the US (not surprising given the belief of people here that they need bigger vehicles with higher ride heights so they can, I guess, see everything), and I think that's what has given Kia the courage to stake out this new path for itself.

Because of this "delayed" success, I think some dealerships may have been leery on spending the money to update early on. They still thought of their brand as economical, and, consequently, they considered their customer base to be budget-minded folks who wouldn't care as much about how clean or modern their dealerships were. Now, as Kia moves more into the mainstream, I think we'll see more dealerships willing to update their showrooms, waiting areas, and shops.

 

[westcoastGT]

Keep in mind that this is a new direction for Kia; and while it may have started in 2018 with the Stinger, I don't think Kia really had confidence in itself until the Telluride came along and wowed everyone. The latter has been far more successful than the Stinger, at least here in the US (not surprising given the belief of people here that they need bigger vehicles with higher ride heights so they can, I guess, see everything), and I think that's what has given Kia the courage to stake out this new path for itself.

Because of this "delayed" success, I think some dealerships may have been leery on spending the money to update early on. They still thought of their brand as economical, and, consequently, they considered their customer base to be budget-minded folks who wouldn't care as much about how clean or modern their dealerships were. Now, as Kia moves more into the mainstream, I think we'll see more dealerships willing to update their showrooms, waiting areas, and shops.

I don't think updating showrooms waiting areas and shops is the root problem , it's much deeper than that , it's cultural , you don't change culture by throwing a few $$ at it ...............................

 

[colnago1331]

Ahh, I didn't realize that that was the side of the dealer experience you were complaining about. I've never had an issue from a customer service standpoint; all of my interactions have generally been good.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Stinger at 12:42, 12:48, 12:51, 13:26

 

[westcoastGT]

Stinger at 12:42, 12:48, 12:51, 13:26

OCD !

Ahh, I didn't realize that that was the side of the dealer experience you were complaining about. I've never had an issue from a customer service standpoint; all of my interactions have generally been good.

If they don't trust Hyundai Dealers to execute on a Luxury strategy , why would they trust Kia Dealers to execute a much more cerebral strategy ........................I love their objective but I cant see any of the Owner/GM/Management dealer experiences I've ever had at a Kia dealer being able to even explain this let alone deliver the experience ......................don't get me wrong , this Brand vision is incredibly attractive to me , and I think their cars will deliver ....................but not without a full dealer re work

 

[stoopid]

The dealer I purchased my Stinger was a mixed bag from an aesthetics standpoint. The main sales area was a bunch of tables and chairs, but on the far end [of the large open room] was an decently upscale coffee / snack section near the service area with some comfortable lounge seats and a TV. On one hand it reminded me of the Hyundai dealer I bought 3 cars in the mid 2000s, and on the other the Buick dealers I had used for service on my last two vehicles.

Positive experience with all the employees involved in the sale.

They're going to need to do better IMO, the Buick dealerships were falling a bit behind IMO and Hyundai's dealerships 15 years ago were nothing more than used car lots, with new cars. I've been to BMW and exotic car dealers, so I know the difference. They're nowhere near leaning in that direction and they probably want and need to be. Even Honda/Acura dealerships are considerably more upscale. Of the recent dealers I've been to, Mazda probably comes closest to Kia in terms of overall feel in the experience, with Mazda having a slight edge on showroom presentation.

 

[GenesisG70]

I don't care about the fancy tables, the saleswoman with miniskirts and fancy coffee shit, I just want good service and a nice car that won't brake my bank account so thats why I buy Kias.

 

[stoopid]

I don't care about the fancy tables, the saleswoman with miniskirts and fancy coffee shit, I just want good service and a nice car that won't brake my bank account so thats why I buy Kias.

We're not the norm in the 'aspirational' entry lux car purchasing demographic. People expect car buying to be an experience, and service to be as cushy as possible. Kia needs people with wallets that can afford a $50k car in their showroom, or they'll never be able to compete in that market.

 

[westcoastGT]

We're not the norm in the 'aspirational' entry lux car purchasing demographic. People expect car buying to be an experience, and service to be as cushy as possible. Kia needs people with wallets that can afford a $50k car in their showroom, or they'll never be able to compete in that market.

imagine how many more vehicle sales Kia could generate if the "dealer experience" was improve significantly ...............I really like what they are striving for but I think they will be dragging their current dealers into this expectation , a cultural shift like this will really take some time ..................

 

[stoopid]

imagine how many more vehicle sales Kia could generate if the "dealer experience" was improve significantly ...............I really like what they are striving for but I think they will be dragging their current dealers into this expectation , a cultural shift like this will really take some time ..................

Yup that was exactly the point of my reply a few posts ago.

You don't spend $50 for a steak at Applebees. Most people with $50k to spend on a car won't spend it at a Kia dealership [existing aspirational Kia/Hyundai owners and a few car guys/gals being the exception]. I'd put money on this being the biggest and possibly only reason the Stinger isn't selling 30,000+ units a year. There isn't a poor car review online, everyone praises the cost/benefit in the car and predict(ed) success for the model. It's still around and serving Kia well as a flagship, but they can't be making much (if any) money on it. I'm sure Kia would want this to sell more. I'm sure the dealers would too.