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…Brand retains spot in JD Power study
By Moses Akaigwe
Kia Corporation has unveiled a set of video clips to tease its highly anticipated Kia EV9, the brand’s dedicated battery electric SUV.
The Kia EV9 flagship SUV is set to accelerate the company’s transformation into a sustainable mobility solutions provider in the era of electrification. 
The Kia EV9 teaser video, available to watch at Kia Worldwide YouTube Channel, showcases a silhouette of the flagship SUV model, featuring its prominent front and sleek body surfaces. The striking lighting patterns created by the front and rear lamps complete the EV9’s bold identity.
The video clips also preview the Kia EV9’s unique blend of sleek and sculptural design and confident and assertive geometry.
The name, EV9, comes from Kia’s EV nomenclature, pairing the prefix ‘EV’ (electric vehicle) with the number ‘9’ (nine), which represents the model’s segment among Kia’s dedicated electric vehicle lineup.
Like the Kia EV6, the Kia EV9 is built upon the company’s dedicated battery electric vehicle platform, Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).
Kia will fully reveal both the exterior and interior design on March 15, and the product information will be fully disclosed during the Kia EV9 World Premiere in late March.
When the Nigerian market is ready for electric vehicles like Kia’s EV9, the vehicle is expected to be made available by Kia Motors Nigeria Ltd which also assembles a range of Kia models in Lagos.
J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study
In another development, Kia is ranked the number one mass-market brand in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) for the third consecutive year after owners reported the fewest issues after three years.
Adding to this substantial aware are three segment wins for the Forte (Compact Car), Optima (Midsize Car) and Sportage (Compact SUV). This latest achievement continues to strengthen Kia’s reputation for dependability and reliability.
The industry-wide study examines problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of three-year old vehicles. The study covers 184 specific problem areas across nine major vehicle categories: climate driving assistance, driving experience, exterior, features/controls/displays, infotainment, interior, powertrain and seats.
Overall dependability is determined by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100). Thus, a lower score reflects a higher level of reliability.
The study was comprised of 30,062 completed surveys and examined how 2020 model-year vehicles are currently performing in terms of quality, component replacement and appeal. Overall, the industry average was reported at 186 problems per 100 (PP100), an improvement of 6 PP100 from 2022.
While Kia ranked highest across mass-market brands with 152 PP100 and is also the only brand within the Hyundai Motor Group to boast three segment awards for the Kia Forte, Kia Optima and Kia Sportage.
“It’s one thing for Kia to tout its world-class dependability, but it’s another thing for an organization like J.D. Power to recognise it,” said Sean Yoon, president and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America. “These accolades from J.D. Power are a validation of our dedication to developing dependable products. Being named the top mass-market brand three years in a row speaks volumes since our customers stand behind our products based on their first-hand experience.”
