Kia.com Mobile Site Captures "Triple Crown" Of Mobile Industry Awards

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia Motors America's (KMA) mobile site ranked highest in J.D. Power and Associates' 2012 Automotive Mobile Site Study in a tie - the third major accolade this year for Kia.com's mobile site.  In addition to ranking highest in the J.D. Power and Associates study, Kia.com's mobile site was recently named "Best Mobile Website" by Digiday's Mobi Awards and "Top Mobile Website in North America" by the Mobile Marketing Association.  The three accolades are considered to be the "triple crown" in the automotive mobile marketing industry.         

The Kia.com mobile site was created in 2011 by Ansible Mobile, Kia's mobile marketing agency, to meet the needs of an ever-growing population of online Kia shoppers who use smartphones in their vehicle-shopping process.  The J.D. Power and Associates study, which examines the features and content of automotive manufacturer mobile websites and their usefulness in engaging shoppers, cited Kia's mobile site with performing particularly well in speed and appearance.  The 2012 Automotive Mobile Site Study included 9,131 evaluations of automotive mobile websites from vehicle shoppers who intend to purchase or lease a vehicle within the next two years.

"Over the past several years mobile devices have become an integral tool for car shoppers, and we recognized the need for consumers to be able to access the Kia.com site while at the dealership or just before or after a vehicle test-drive," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing & communications, KMA.  "In conjunction with Ansible Mobile, Kia developed a site that has proven to be a vital resource for our consumers and yet another component of our brand's transformation into a recognized industry leader."

Prior to this most recent J.D. Power accolade, Kia's mobile site was named "Top Mobile Website in North America" at the Smarties Gala organized by the Mobile Marketing Association and won a silver medal in the Global Website Category.  The Digiday Mobi Awards, which honor overall excellence and breakthrough achievement in mobile media, marketing and advertising also recognized Kia's mobile platform by naming it "Best Mobile Website."    

"Recognition from actual consumers is by far the greatest acknowledgement we can receive on the quality of the Kia mobile site," said JiYoung Kim, SVP of Creative Solutions, Ansible.  "The entire Ansible team feels incredibly privileged to work for a brand that believes mobile can and should do more for today's mobile users, and we look forward to helping Kia expand their mobile leadership in the future."

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 755 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA. In 2011, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and became one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S.^[1] Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.

Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

1. Based on 5-year cumulative growth between 12-month retail sales for periods ending September 2007 and September 2012 of all U.S. automotive brands.

SOURCE Kia Motors America