Starting in 1986, in partnership with Ford, Kia produced several Mazda derived vehicles for both domestic sales in Korea and exports into other countries. These models include the Pride (based on the Mazda 121) and Avella, which were sold in North America and Australasia as the Ford Festiva and Ford Aspire. In 1992, Kia Motors America was incorporated in the United States. The first Kia-branded vehicles in the United States were sold from four dealerships in Portland, Oregon in February 1994. Since then, Kia expanded methodically one region at a time. Dealers in 1994 sold the Sephia, and a few years later the United States line expanded with the addition of the Sportage. However, Kia's bankruptcy in 1997, part of the Asian financial crisis, resulted in the company being acquired in 1998 by South Korean rival Hyundai Motor Company, outbidding Ford Motor Company which had owned an interest in Kia Motors since 1986.

Kia began importing cars to Europe in early 1991, initially selling just the Pride mini-car. It initially proved popular with buyers but sales fell towards the end of the decade and the end of production was finally announced in May 2000, with its successor - the Rio - not going on sale for another year. Kia did not enter Europe's large family car market until the launch of its Credos four-door saloon in 1999. This car was similar in size to the Ford Mondeo, but on its launch was actually cheaper to buy than the smaller Focus. It had a spacious interior, large boot, competitive asking price and high equipment levels, but it had little more appeal to sway buyers away from established European brands like Ford Motor Company, Vauxhall/Opel, Renault and Peugeot. Its successor, the Magentis, launched in 2001, was still nowhere near as popular as Kia might have hoped it would be. Kia entered the MPV market in 1999 with it's the Sedona. On its launch, it was the cheapest full-size people carrier on sale in the United Kingdom.

2004 saw the commencement of European imports for the Kia Picanto city car. It has proved very popular with budget buyers in most of Europe. As of 2007, Kia has been importing cars to Europe for 16 years. On its arrival, just one model was being sold. The range has gradually expanded over that time so the marque has a competitor in just about every sector except for the luxury and sports market. Sales of its products have so far failed to match those of established European brands, but current sales records have been impressive for a marque who only arrived in Europe at the start of the previous decade. KIA is looking to branch into Formula 1 in the future.

Kia Models List: Passenger car: Avella (was rebadged as the Ford Aspire in North America), Brisa (based on the Mazda Familia), Capital (based on the Mazda Capella), Concord (based on the Mazda Capella), Elan/Vigato/Kia Roadster (based on the Lotus Elan), Enterprise (based on the Mazda Sentia), Potentia (based on the Mazda Luce), Sephia/Mentor, Pride (based on the Ford Festiva/Mazda 121), Subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, Clarus/Credos, Morning/Picanto, Opirus/Amanti, Optima/Optima-Regal/Magentis, Optima/Magentis/Lotze, Rio/Pride, Rio (Cinco/RX-V), Rio SF/Rio, Sephia/Mentor (New), Sephia Spectra Shuma, Spectra, Spectra/Cerato, Visto (based on the Hyundai Atos/Santro), cee'd (which will debut at Mondial de l'Automobile 2006). SUV Van Kia List: Kia Motors Group: Ceed, Sportage, Bongo (based on the Mazda Bongo), Besta (based on the Mazda Bongo), Wide-Bongo (based on the Mazda Bongo), Power-Bongo (based on the Mazda Bongo), Topic (based on the Mazda Bongo Brawny), Towner (based on the Daihatsu Hi-Jet/Atrai), Rocsta, Rocsta R2, Ceres, Borrego Mohave, Commercial vehicles: Kia KB (based on the Hino Truck), Rhino/Wide-Boxer, Kia Trade, Kia Boxer (based on the Mazda Boxer), Kia AM Truck (based on the Hino Super Dolphin), Kia AM Bus (based on the Hino Blueribbon), Kia Granbird (Asia Motors), Kia Titan (based on the Mazda Titan), Kia Super-Titan (based on the Mazda Titan), Kia Jumbo-Titan (based on the Mazda Titan), Kia Granto (based on the Hino Super Dolphin Profia), Kia Combi (based on the Mazda Parkway), kia Cosmos (based on the Hino Rainbow RJ), Concept cars: Kee, Pro_ceed, Ex_ceed, Soul.