Kia and Hyundai start competing in world's fifth-largest car market, India

Kia's network development plan gets a Hyundai punch even before the former's official launch, slated for 2019

Kia and Hyundai — two sister car brands — have started competing in the world’s fifth-largest car market, India, even before the former’s official launch, slated for 2019.

Kia Motors, which announced an investment of $1.1 billion in India last year, organised several roadshows to attract investments from dealers in setting up sales service networks. Of the many applications Kia received, about 60 happened to be dealers of Hyundai.

However, Hyundai, the second-biggest player in the domestic car market, was keen to hold its flock of dealers together. It is learnt to have issued strict directives to its dealer partners