tft lcd colour display in supervision cluster brands

Kia Motors Corp.’s new XCeed compact crossover will feature an optional 12.3-inch digital display, the first all-digital system the carmaker has offered in any model.

The 2020 XCeed will be the fourth variant of Kia’s Ceed range, joiningthe base five-door hatchback, sports wagon and the Proceed shooting brake model. Kia will publicly unveil the new crossover later this month.

Dubbed Supervision, the 12.3-inch instrument cluster integrates the traditional analog tachometer and speedometer with a digital infotainment unit. Other variants of the XCeed are fitted with either a 3.8-inch monochrome LCD infotainment unit or 4.2-inch color TFT LCD.

The new multi-function display is controlled via steering wheel buttons. Drivers can use them to choose turn-by-turn navigation directions, get vehicle and trip details, display audio information or manage phone calls.

The system also displays diagnostic alerts and the status of driver-assistance technologies. In addition, a driver monitoring system sends an alert if it detects signs of fatigue.

When the engine is switched off, a short graphic of the vehicle in motion is played along with a summary of the drive. The latter shows the time and distance driven, average fuel efficiency and the estimated remaining driving range before refueling is required.

Sales are due to launch in Europe and other markets later this year. There are no plans to sell the XCeed in the U.S., which is getting the new Seltos compact crossover instead.

“Borgward is a style icon and synonymous for producing design icons. Continental has a long history of cooperating with Borgward. As early as in the 1950s, Borgward’s classic model Isabella was equipped with instrument clusters designed by Continental. We are more than happy to join hands with Borgward in China and provide it with our innovative instrumentation products,” said Helmut Matschi, head of the Interior Division and member of the board of directors at Continental AG. “This innovative 4.2” color TFT cluster we are supplying them with fully demonstrates our excellent local R&D capability and underlines our strategy of ‘In the market, for the market’.”

The product integrates one 4.2 inch color TFT LCD display with high resolution characteristics (QVGA 480*272) and high contrast ratio in super-wide angle of view, this cluster also has capability of image rendering with true color. What’s more, this instrument cluster delivers the information to drivers via ergonomic and colorful pictures and animations, which brings a more pleasant driving experience to drivers. In addition, the instrument cluster is connected with audio/video entertainment module, thus to realize human machine interaction in a more convenient way.

11 June 2019– The new Kia XCeed urban crossover will be available with Kia’s first fully-digital 12.3-inch Supervision driver instrument cluster when it is launched across Europe later this year. Due to be fully revealed on 26 June 2019, the high-tech Kia XCeed will be one of the most technologically advanced compact cars when it goes on-sale.

Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer at Kia Motors Europe, comments: “Our new Supervision digital instrument cluster is one of a number of optional new technologies that will be available with the Kia XCeed. Boasting a wide range of features, particularly on higher-specification models, this cluster will play an important role in displaying critical information to the driver in a clear, unobtrusive way. It will be adapted for other Kia models in future, as we seek new ways to display useful and critical information to drivers on-the-move.”

The Kia XCeed’s new 12.3-inch Supervision instrument cluster is designed to deliver information as clearly as possible. With a high-resolution 1920x720-pixel display, the digital cluster replaces the conventional speedometer and tachometer dials found currently in the brand’s passenger cars. Its single, seamless display incorporates pin-sharp digital dials for vehicle and engine speeds, with a fast frame-rate enabling it to react quickly and smoothly to instructions and inputs from the driver.

Between the two digital dials is a multi-function display, controlled via the multi-function steering wheel. In this portion of the cluster drivers can see turn-by-turn navigation instructions clearly in their line of sight, as well as audio information, phone calls and contacts, and in-depth trip information. This includes live and average fuel efficiency levels. The system also also displays vehicle diagnostics alerts, and enables pop-up notifications linked to the car’s various active safety and driver assist technologies and live traffic and navigation system. The multi-function central display also shows cues from the car’s Driver Attention Warning system, advising drivers to take a break if it detects signs of fatigue.

When the driver parks and switches off the car, the new cluster also plays a short graphic of the car in motion, and displays a summary of the drive. This shows the time and distance driven, the average fuel efficiency achieved, and the estimated distance remaining based on current fuel levels.

The new Supervision instrument cluster is available as an option in the new Kia XCeed, depending on market and vehicle specification. It replaces the physical dials and 3.8-inch mono-LCD or 4.2-inch colour TFT LCD screens available with different specifications of vehicle.

Like other models in the Ceed range, certain variants of the Kia XCeed line-up will be offered with a Drive Mode Select system. Drivers can tailor the vehicle’s handling and performance characteristics for different driving conditions, with Normal and Sport modes each adapting the car’s steering, transmission and throttle responses.

The new Supervision digital instrument cluster adapts to each mode accordingly with a range of differentiated graphics. By switching to a different drive mode, the instrument cluster displays more detailed information relating to each mode. In Normal, the display provides live fuel-efficiency gauges and traditional dials for vehicle and engine speeds, as well as additional trip information. Putting the car in Sport mode, the system offers a more prominent display of vehicle and engine speeds, with a larger, clearer read-out of the car’s current speed and engine RPM. Non-essential information is hidden away in Sport mode, minimising visual distractions.

In developing the digital instrument cluster, Kia is proofing its in-car technology against future technological developments. Digital clusters are a key component for handling data and displaying information from a variety of sources, and the new system means Kia is well-placed to incorporate future cutting-edge safety and powertrain technologies in its in-car displays.

For instance, the cluster’s graphics capabilities make it ideal for displaying immersive information relating to the electrified powertrains found in an increasing number of Kia vehicles. The digital instrument cluster will be adapted in future to display eco gauges, drive mode and trip information, and even a display of the flow of energy between batteries and electric motors. The digital display will also provide a unique visual link to the Eco driving mode found in certain models. Kia’s new instrument cluster will be introduced to other mild-hybrid, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles in future.

KEY FINDINGS Analog instrument clusters are expected to have a slower growth and gradually be phased out in all trims of premium and mid segment cars by 2025

Emerging market such as India as Latin American countries will continue to see growth in the analog market due to its implementation in lower segment vehicles

Volume growth of hybrid cluster will be dominated in emerging markets such as APAC countries and Latin America due to increasing adopting in mid-segment vehicles by indigenous OEMs

USA, China and Europe are estimated to see lower growth in hybrid cluster as compared to digital cluster due to direct transition from analog to completely digital cluster in most trims

Integrated cockpit domain controllers, head-up display and driver assistance features are expected to get integrated into the cluster in the forecast period

Eye tracking and turn-by-turn navigation integration into the cluster, which is already implemented by few OEMs will influence the price rise in this segment

In July 2021, Visteon Corporation announced a joint venture with Cerence Incorporation, an AI developer. The venture is set to integrate Cerence’s conversation AI system with the company’s SmartCore product to feature Voice-enabled cockpit solutions for two-wheelers.

In January 2021, Qualcomm Technologies announced the launch of its next generation digital cockpit solutions with the 4th generation Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive cockpit platform

Continental has signed a strategic agreement with Pioneer Corporation to integrate Pioneer’s entire infotainment subdomain for cockpits with the company’s instrument cluster high performance computer.

The top spot in the market among suppliers is occupied by Visteon with over 21% market share, followed by Nippon Seiki with XX% market share and Denso Corporation at the 3rd place with XX%

Automotive Instrument cluster is a set of instruments and gauges that helps in understanding the functioning of a vehicle at a single glance. Instrument cluster comprises speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, warning indicators, pointers, sensors and electronic control unit. The display can be either analog, digital or hybrid. It ensures driver’s safety as it keeps track of the car’s health and movement.

1 July 2021 Rightware Rightware collaborates with Freescale and Vivante to enable highly advanced automotive in-vehicle infotainment and Instrument cluster systems

1 Q4-2021 ADAS and AI based vision processing technology for autonomous vehicles StradVision is partnered with LG Electronics to develop an AR head up instrument cluster projects such as ADAS warnings and navigation information on windshield using augmented reality which enhances the vehicle safety.

2 Q3-2021 Japanese semiconductor manufacturing company Renesas Electronics Corporation introduced a new system on chip product for the automotive electronics applications. The new R-Car Gen3e SoCs series provides 20% higher CPU speed for instrument cluster, driver monitoring systems and integrated cockpit domain controllers. Q3

3 Q2-2021 Google revealed a new feature in Android Auto at its Google I/O annual developer conference, the new Android Auto will support instrument cluster integration, that is the app will display on cluster if the screen is supported by digital display. Q2

4 Q1-2021 Hyundai Motor India increased its Verna models production in India and partnered with German multinational company Continental AG to supply digital instrument clusters to meet the growing demand. Q1

The electronic components such as display screen (mostly LCD), integrated chips, and control units are available readily and cheaper in cost. This has been a major factor in expanding the market.

Digital clusters will continue to be a premium feature in emerging economies and also contribute to increased value per unit of the digital cluster. Integrated cockpit domain controllers, head-up display and driver assistance features will be further integrated into the cluster in the forecast period.

The sales of electric vehicles has been on rise in the past few years with the global automakers surpassing revenue milestones and pre-order bookings. As the pollution levels and oil prices across the world are on a rise, the demand and production of electric vehicles is increasing creating incentives for automakers to develop more enhanced technologies. Several automotive part manufacturers are now focusing on the development of digital instrument clusters keeping in mind the requirements of an electric vehicle. For instance, Visteon announced an agreement with Renault motors to supply the instrument clusters for the company’s electric Kwid model.

Instrument clusters for electric vehicles come with an integrated dashboard to provide the user necessary information about the battery charge left as well as the availability of the nearest battery charging station and software enhancements from OEMs. Therefore, with the rise in demand for electric vehicles and automakers making strides in the sector by developing new technologies, the demand for instrument clusters with specialised features for electric vehicles will increase.

The market is dominated by some of the key players that are the supply partners for most of the automakers. The top spot in the market is occupied by Visteon with over 21% market share, followed by Nippon Seiki with XX% market share and Denso Corporation at the 3rd place with XX%

The instrument cluster in a car contains the different displays and indications that allow the driver to control the vehicle. Several instruments, such as a speedometer, odometer, tachometer, oil pressure gauge, fuel gauge, and other indicators for system failures and alerts, are among them.

Load drivers each physical (non-graphical) gauge is controlled by its own stepper motor. In addition, almost all instrument clusters have LED backlighting. To function properly, each of these devices requires a load driver.The stepper motor drivers are often integrated into the instrument cluster MCU; however, the LED backlight driver is implemented as an independent IC.

The Controller Area Network bus in a car serves as the “backbone” of the vehicle network because it is the de facto standard for high-reliability serial communications.CAN is designed for applications that must consistently transfer several yet small amounts of data among nodes, as well as self-diagnose and rectify data problems.

Within a node, LINs (Local Interconnect Network) handle network communication. A LIN network has a broadcast architecture with a single master – often an MCU – and up to 12 slave devices. It is inexpensive and easy to set up.

Processor in automotive applications are fundamentally safety-critical, the processor or microcontroller must be capable of delivering dependable, real-time control. The microcontroller is chosen for its application-specific integrated peripherals as well as its ability to execute instructions quickly.

An integrated CAN and/or LIN transceiver is frequently included in instrument cluster MCUs for connecting with numerous sensors throughout the vehicle. The microcontroller may additionally have stepper motor drivers for actuating various gauges, as previously indicated.

Power Management in Low-dropout regulators are particularly effective in situations where there is a lot of load, such as when using an electric starter. External memory, stepper motors, one or more MCUs, CAN interface, LIN interface, and LED backlighting are all examples of instrument cluster components that can work at different voltage levels. When designing for efficiency, compactness, low cost, and low EMI, careful thought is essential because there are so many distinct power rails.

On the basis of technology hybrid instrument cluster is expected to dominate the market. Its ability to integrate both analog and digital has been the factor for this. The rise in electric vehicles and adoption of hybrid instrument clusters in commercial vehicles is expected to boost the market.

Passenger vehicles hold most of the share in the instrument cluster. High-end passenger vehicles attract larger market share as mostly they will be hybrid type and feature more options than other segments.

The 2 wheelers are sold in high numbers in Asia region, accounting for a sizable instrument cluster market volume in the region. The MY 2018 onward vehicles launched in the Asian market have a much higher digital content.

The instrument cluster market in the USA will be driven by the growth of the electric vehicle industry as well the increasing implementation of fully digital clusters in the pickups as they account for a large volume of the overall sales. Another dominant factor which will influence the growth of the instrument cluster market will be the focus on advanced driving safety features, implementation of which will require the need for OEMs to redevelop their cluster systems to include driver assistance features.

The demand for SUVs and crossovers ( 55% share in new car sales in 2020) will increase the instrument cluster market value in the country. Many top selling SUVs in the US are fitted with digital instrument cluster as a standard option.

Pickups account for 16-17% market share of new car sales in the US and all of them have Analogue dials + TFT display(centre) + multiple gauges setup (on top). Ford F-150, the top-selling US vehicle for more than four decades, gets a 8 inch TFT display in centre for higher variants and 4.2 inch display for lower variants.

The analog market is expected to show the slowest growth in the US market with a CAGR of 0.5% during the forecast period due to higher digitalization of cockpits.

Post Covid-19, the US was less prone to drop in sales numbers due to the rise in private ownership of vehicles, thereby showing a positive trend in growth of the cluster market as well.

Silverado-2021 HD Nippon Seiki Digital/hybrid 15 inch diagonal multi-color head-up display which projects data onto the windshield such as speed, temperature, directions, time. There are 3 DIC cluster options.

Nissan Rogue Visteon Digital 12 inch diagonal screen with vehicle dynamic control with traction control system as well as a multi-color head-up display. The cluster includes gauges for speed, temperature, infotainment details as well as fuel details.

Ford Escape Visteon Digital 12.3 inch instrument cluster with configurable display and 3D animations. Speed, temperature and other vital information can be projected on the 6 inch head-up display.

The rise in sale of electric vehicles (+147% YOY 2020) has led to a rise in hybrid and digital instrument clusters across Europe. The volume of pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars (EVs) increased from 575,000 units in 2019 to a staggering 1.42million units in 2020 indicating the accelerated transition to new energy vehicles in this region

The EU region had among the lowest penetration of analog systems globally. Only entry level car models such as Dacia Sandero, Opel Corsa and Fiat Panda featured an analog cluster due to significant price advantage.

High share of Premium and Luxury car sales in Europe region has boosted the Automotive Instrument cluster market immensely, by Value. All the top selling models in Europe feature hybrid instrument clusters. VW now offers the biggest range of Digital instrument clusters starting from Polo, Golf, to Tiguan, Passat across multiple variants.

Among French OEMs, Renault offers a 7- inch TFT Display on many top-selling vehicles but not on its Budget brand Dacia. PSA group offers Digital instrument cluster on best-selling SUVs like 208,3008 and 2008.

EV push by OEMs such as Polestar, Daimler, BMW and others is a strong factor to the growth of the value market especially in the digital cluster segment.

Volkswagen Polo Bosch Digital 10.3 inch with digital Cockpit Pro which displays a navigation map in conjunction with other vital details such as speed, temperature and fuel.

Ford Fiesta Visteon Hybrid The ecoboost displays how much electric power has been generated by the mild hybrid system and tracks whether the energy is returned to the battery or used to assist fuel efficiency as well as speed.

Toyota Yaris Denso Hybrid The 4.2 inch cluster displays multiple information such as turbo pressure, 4WD mode, G-force, gear shift indicators, speed and fuel economy.

In the year 2020, China had an estimated output of 6.6M analog clusters, 7.3M hybrid clusters and 5.9M digital clusters, accounting for ~30% of the worlds instrument cluster sales

The instrument cluster market in China is expected to witness an aggressive growth strategy in the features offered due to stiff competition as well as the phenomenal EV growth aiding in complete redevelopment of the in-cabin experience. As of 2020, China has the highest percentage of vehicles among its top selling vehicles to feature an all-digital cluster as compared to any other region

Among the top selling vehicles most of them are fitted with hybrid instrument clusters, except for the budget cars such as Wuling Hongguang and Volkswagen Lavida which still have analogue instrument panels. The Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Geely Emgrand EC7 are among the top selling vehicles which had a 100% penetration of hybrid clusters

Indigenous models such as Haval H6, Geely Boyue and the BAIC EU series were among the top selling cars which featured a complete penetration of full digital clusters

As of 2020, Japan is the only region where digital clusters had the highest penetration of about 40%, followed by hybrid clusters at 31% and analog at ~29%. The hybrid market is expected to eat into the market share of the analog market due to indigenous OEMs such as Toyota and Honda looking to implement their home-grown technology in all their models.

As of 2020, Toyota is yet to transition from TFT screens in their top selling vehicles Prius, Sienta and Corolla. The digital cluster is estimated to get more than 50% of the value market share in 2025 at ~$1.5B and the overall instrument cluster at ~$2.8B by 2025

Most of the top selling passenger vehicles are hybrid type instrument clusters. Very few are digital types such as Toyota Prius. The companies manufacturing instruments from Japan cluster are continuously investing on R&D to improve technology, this will boost Japan’s market in this sector.

Driver assistance systems and EV growth will influence the price per unit of the cluster as OEMs such as Toyota and Honda continue to race towards implementation of such features.

Toyota Prius Denso Digital 11.6 inch multimedia display and color head-up display that uses aircraft inspired technology to project vital information about speed, temperature.

Nissan Note Aura Visteon Digital 12.3 inch digital cluster is aligned with the central display, the screen displays speed, temperature, direction and other vital information.

In 2020, analog clusters had a large penetration of ~68%, hybrid clusters at about 30%, while digital clusters had a poor share of ~2%. Nissan magnate and Renault Kwid were the vehicles in the entry segment to get an all-digital instrument cluster

Indian market will continue to witness growth in the analog market due to need for extremely cost-effective clusters in the low budget vehicles, which constitute a significant chunk of the number of sales in the region

Till 2016, almost all cars sold in India had the same instrument cluster provided on all variants except different tachometer readings in case of Petrol and Diesel. But, now there is clear differentiation between lower segment variants and higher segment variants of the same vehicle, and the design on Instrument cluster varies. Ex- 2019 Mahindra XUV 300, Hyundai Venue, 2020 Hyundai Creta.

Except for Suzuki Baleno and Kia Seltos most of the top selling cars have analog instrument clusters. Analog instrument clusters hold the majority of share as they occupy all the top selling budget cars. However, the hybrid instrument cluster is slowly seeing the rise.

Till date, there is no option of adding a Digital instrument cluster as a Paid option while configuring a car like US and EU markets. For Example, one can opt for a 10-inch Digital cluster in VW T-Roc for ~$500 extra.

Going forward, Indian market will continue to witness growth in the analog market due to the need for extremely cost-effective clusters in the low budget vehicles, which constitute a significant chunk of the number of sales in the region.

Hyundai I10 grand Visteon Hybrid/digital The 13.46 cm digital speedometer with multi-information display such as gear shift, door and tailgate information and fuel availability.

Maruti Baleno Visteon Hybrid The multi-information display tracks the vital details of the vehicle such as the speed, fuel economy, vehicle alerts and temperature.

Hyundai Venue Continental Hybrid/digital It has an advanced supervision cluster with IC light adjustment rheostat and tachometer which displays the speed and other vital information.

The rise in demand for ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) and autonomous driving is expected to boost the market, as it requires a more sophisticated instrument cluster system.

1 Q4-2021 Apple Apple is working on a new project called IronHeart which enables vehicle function controlling through the iPhone such as instrument cluster, radio, HVAC, power seats and many more.

2 Q4-2021 Visteon Corporation Visteon Corporation is partnered with Blackberry to develop next generation digital instrument cluster, telematics solutions and infotainment systems for automobiles, Visteon made multi year agreement with Blackberry to use QNX software to develop digital cockpit solutions.

3 Q3-2021 Nobo Technologies Nobo Technologies to use Blackberry’s advanced digital cockpit controller for the next generation SUV Haval H6S, for the cluster display, infotainment, driver monitor system built using Blackberry QNX Neutrino Real time operating system and QNX Hypervisor. Q3

4 Q3-2021 Qt Hyundai Motor Group is partnered with Finland’s software solutions provider Qt, which supplies human machine interface(HMI) technology for the implementation of instrument cluster, rear entertainment systems and infotainment systems in its Kia and Genesis brand vehicles. Q3

In July 2021, Visteon Corporation announced a joint venture with Cerence Incorporation, an AI developer. The venture is set to integrate Cerence’s conversation AI system with the company’s SmartCore product to feature Voice-enabled cockpit solutions for two-wheelers. The system will be launched in agreement with a leading motorcycle manufacturer in the year 2024, it will offer a 12-inch display screen with connected apps and cloud software download capabilities.

In January 2021, Qualcomm Technologies announced the launch of its next generation digital cockpit solutions with the 4th generation Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive cockpit platform. The system will utilise the 5 nm processing technology to provide automakers with one of the highest performance system-on-chip (SoC) with a low power thermal profile integrated with the company’s Car-to-cloud soft SKU capabilities.

In January 2021, Qualcomm Technologies with its subsidiary NIO announced the agreement to develop the latest digital cockpit technologies in NIO’s first flagship sedan NIO ET7. The vehicle will be available from the year 2022 featuring the 3rd generation Qualcomm snapdragon with 5G platform.

Qualcomm Technologies has announced an agreement with Amazon to integrate Alexa custom assistant with Qualcomm snapdragon automotive cockpit platform. It will be available in the company’s 3rd and 4th generation platforms.

Panasonic has developed a concept for advanced cockpits which will feature multiple displays as well as touchless operation. The electronic cockpit solution offers an innovative digital instrument cluster with other displays using HMI.

Electric vehicle industry will strongly influence the growth of the digital cluster market due to the need for consolidation of entire cluster system in the vehicle

China accounts for close to 10% of the worldwide analog cluster sales of about 7.2M units in year 2020, making it the single largest market in terms of volume

With the introduction of Nissan Ariya in US, Nissan Magnite in APAC and continued influence of Nissan Leaf in EU the company will strongly influence digital and hybrid instrument cluster numbers

USA, China and Europe are expected to see lower growth in hybrid cluster as compared to digital cluster due to direct transition from analog to completely digital cluster in most trims

Bosch’s curved instrument cluster, first of its kind is installed in Volkswagen Touareg, it is expected to benefit the drivers by improving the visibility.

In the year 2019, Visteon Corporation announced the launch of a digital instrument cluster to be incorporated in PEUGEOT 208. The unique 3D i-cockpit will come equipped with a pair of TFTs to provide graphical content with 3D animations as well as content on both screens.

With the R-Car Gen3e, Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a leading provider of innovative semiconductor solutions, has added a new family to its popular R-Car system-on-chips (SoCs).

The new R-Car Gen3e series of SoCs, which includes six new members, provides a scalable lineup for automotive applications that require high-quality graphics rendering, such as integrated cockpit domain controllers, in-vehicle infotainment (IVI), digital instrument cluster, driver monitoring systems, and LED matrix light. It Increases CPU performance — the R-Car M3Ne, R-Car M3e, and R-Car H3e devices can now run at up to 2GHz.

Scalable Instrument Cluster platforms with low-power, line-based graphic processing, functional safety, embedded Hardware Security Module (HSM), and Over-The-Air (OTA) software updatability deliver a rich visual user experience at the lowest possible cost of ownership.

Automotive instrument clusters give drivers a consolidated and easy-to-read display with all of the vehicle’s important driving data. It’s the driver’s workspace, so a perfect cluster dashboard that can be safely updated and customised is essential.

On the market, Infineon provides an unrivalled spectrum of scalable instrument cluster platforms. The TraveoTM and TraveoTM II microcontroller product families offer the highest scalability, supporting both traditional gauge and hybrid instrument clusters, as well as virtual instrument clusters.

The graphics engine within the microcontroller can operate on a line basis, which reduces the amount of memory required for graphics processing. The TraveoTM II graphic MCU can support the virtual instrument cluster with a high resolution.

Performance and density scalability are provided by Infineon’s SemperFlashTM and HyperRAMTM memory products to fulfil the needs of various instrument cluster systems. These high-performance memory devices are suited for high-speed access and real-time graphics.

2 October 2021 Qualcomm Qualcomm said that it will purchase part of auto components supplier Veoneer in a transaction valued at $4.5 billion, as the chipmaker dives deeper into the car market.

1 Q4-2021 Spark Minda & Stoneridge Automotive components manufacturers for OEMs Spark Minda and automotive electronic components and system supplier Stoneridge are joint ventures since 2004, Minda Group acquired a major stake in Stoneridge JV to take ownership of instrument cluster and sensor business.

2 Q4-2021 Spark Minda Leading automotive components supplier Spark Minda invested $100 million for three years to expand its business by acquisitions by transforming auto parts supplier to systems supplier. The industry is growing 28% year over year for the quarter.

3 Q2-2021 Candera GmbH & Varroc Engineering Global human machine interface(HMI) technology provider Candera GmbH, is partnered with auto component manufacturer Varroc Engineering Limited, by signing a MoU(Memorandum of Understanding) agreement. Candera will supply software solutions in HMI and Varroc will develop hardware for the TFT instrument cluster.

As many OEMs such as Volkswagen Group, Toyota, GM aim to move the development of their cluster systems in-house in order to unify their platform for cockpit solutions, we expect a big transition in the market with suppliers for cluster systems needing a higher level of collaboration with OEMs in order to stay in the race to provide innovative solutions.

Continental and Visteon hold the majority of global market share and are the leading manufacturers in this sector. Some of the other players are Denso (Japan), Bosch (Germany) and Magneti Marelli (Italy). Qualcomm and Mentor Graphics (US) have been providing software platforms for digital instrument clusters. Pricol from India has been the leading instrument cluster manufacturer for 2 wheelers.

All suppliers must look to capitalize on the two prominent trends The legislative growth of the EV market will be a strong factor to influence the growth of the digital instrument cluster market

Need for integration with smartphones as well as the infotainment systems will drive OEMs to introduce a simplified cockpit solution to their newer models.

Continental has signed a strategic agreement with Pioneer Corporation to integrate Pioneer’s entire infotainment subdomain for cockpits with the company’s instrument cluster high performance computer. The development of this technology is aimed primarily for the Asian market. The company also recently released the half-yearly financial report for the first half of the year 2021 with the sales worth $23.7 billion which was an increase from the previous year which reported $19.5 billion for H1 of 2020. The sales of the automotive technology department was $9.2 billion for the same term, an increase from the H1 of 2020 which reported $7.9 billion worth sales.

The leading manufacturer of instrument clusters, Visteon recently announced the fiscal results for the second quarter of the year 2021. The company recorded net sales worth $610 million which was a whopping 59% year on year increase from the Q2 of 2020 reporting net sales worth $371 million. The company also announced that Geely Auto’s new Xingyue L flagship SUV will be the first production vehicle to incorporate the intelligent cockpit system developed with Qualcomm technologies and ECARX.

Denso Corporation recently released the first quarter results for the fiscal year 2022 with the total consolidated revenue of $12.3 billion which was a 77.3% increase from the previous year same quarter. The company also stated that the revenue has significantly increased due to the recovery in sales of vehicles and production activities from the COVID-19 pandemic. The company announced the development of future cockpit system technologies based on HMI. The cockpit system will be in a curved display with organic OLED. The system will use AR superimposition technology to ensure quick and intuitive recognition, minimise driver disturbance and help in eliminating errors.

In the year 2020, Denso Corporation announced a strategic joint venture with Qualcomm Technologies to develop the next generation cockpit systems. The primary task of the venture is to enhance the Harmony Core 4 which is an integrated cockpit system that has the capabilities to coordinate with external cloud based services and new HMI products.

Qualcomm Incorporated announced the acquisition of NUVIA, a leading CPU and technology design company, by its subsidiary Qualcomm Technologies for $1.4 billion. With the acquisition, the company has plans to integrate the next generation CPUs across a wide variety of products such as digital cockpits, smartphones, laptops as well as ADAS systems. The company also announced the third quarter financial results for the year 2021, with revenue worth $8,060 million which was a whopping 65% increase from the revenue of the same quarter of the year 2020 recorded as $4,893 million.

Prominent market players, market dynamics with OEMs as well as forecasted opportunities for Automotive Instrument Cluster Market or component suppliers

(SEOUL) August 27, 2020 - The updated Kia Stinger is revealed in full detail for the first time today, with the high-performance fastback sports sedan boasting a range of upgrades to amplify its gran turismo character.

In addition to its refreshed design, revealed earlier this month, the enhanced Kia Stinger includes Kia’s latest driver assist and safety features, as well as improved interior packaging for greater space and comfort. For North America, the upgraded model is also now offered with a powerful new ‘Smartstream’ 2.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine.

“The Stinger remains the standard-bearer for the Kia brand, almost a decade after we first revealed the Kia GT Concept in 2011. It remains our most driver-focused car, and is capable of covering great distances in comfort and style,” said Thomas Schemera, Head of Product Division at Hyundai Motor Group. “The upgraded model builds on the Stinger’s well-established grand touring ethos, with a renewed sense of design flair, new powertrains and technologies, and greater usability enhancing its appeal for buyers in markets around the world.”

The new Kia Stinger will go on-sale in Korea during the third quarter of 2020, with sales due to commence in many of Kia’s global markets later in the year.

The upgraded Stinger offers a revised range of three powerful turbocharged gasoline engines, in line with its reputation as the most performance-focused car that Kia makes. Each engine offers swift acceleration and rapid responses to driver input, while offering a refined grand touring experience for steady cruises.

A new engine has been added to the Stinger line-up exclusively for North American customers. The new ‘Smartstream’ 2.5-liter T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine sits directly between the two existing gasoline powertrains, producing 304 ps at 5,800 rpm. The maximum torque of the new four-cylinder engine, 422 Nm, is accessible from 1,650 to 4,000 rpm, making it easy for drivers to build and maintain speed in all conditions.

The most powerful engine in the Stinger line-up, a twin-turbo 3.3-liter T-GDi V6 from Kia’s ‘Lambda’ engine family, remains unchanged, save for a new Electronic Variable Exhaust Valve system*. This features a small butterfly valve in the exhaust which opens and closes, producing a more prominent, deeper exhaust note in Sport driving modes, or a quieter, more subdued exhaust note in Eco or Comfort mode. As well as enhancing the sound quality, the revised exhaust flow path helps to liberate an extra 3 ps from the engine (for a total of 373 ps at 6,000 rpm). Its 510 Nm torque is accessible from 1,300 to 4,500 rpm, giving the Stinger effortless performance everywhere.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder ‘Theta’ engine, also available since the car’s launch in 2017, is unchanged, producing 255 ps at 6,200 rpm and 353 Nm torque from 1,400 to 4,000 rpm.

At the center of the Stinger’s upgraded cabin is an upgraded touchscreen infotainment system, providing new functionality to meet customers’ changing expectations of in-car technology.

Depending on market and specification, the upgraded Stinger is now available with an optional new 10.25-inch touchscreen display. Bluetooth multi-connection enables users to connect up to two mobile devices at the same time - one for hands-free phone and multimedia use; the other for media use only. Its advanced split-screen display lets users control or monitor different vehicle features at the same time, customizing the screen with a series of different widgets. The 10.25-inch system offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, with a voice control system for many of the car’s features, such as heating and ventilation, audio and navigation.

A new 8.0-inch touchscreen display with a narrow-bezel design is also available, replacing the previous 7.0-inch system. Depending on market, the larger display also offers wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Drivers have a choice of two instrument cluster displays, based on vehicle specification. The standard 3.5-inch mono-TFT cluster is now replaced with a larger 4.2-inch color-TFT LCD cluster, delivering improved visibility and displaying a wider range of information to the driver. In addition, a fully-digital, high-resolution 7.0-inch ‘Supervision’ cluster is available - a full-color display with vivid graphics for different driving modes, delivering crystal-clear information to the driver.

The upgraded Stinger features a series of new ‘connected car’ features to improve convenience for owners in many countries. Depending on market and vehicle specification, among these technologies is a Remote Engine Start system, which allows owners to start their car remotely using the Stinger’s smart key.

In certain markets, Kia’s UVO App can be used to pre-activate the Stinger’s seat heating and ventilation functions remotely, creating a comfortable temperature before entering the car and avoiding the inconvenience of sitting on a hot or cold seat.

The upgraded Kia Stinger carries over the same Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that it offered previously, as well as a series of new features and updates to provide even better protection for the driver, their passengers and other road users.

ㆍ Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) now offers protection when turning across the road into a junction by identifying oncoming traffic on the other side of the road. Furthermore, it offers increased activation range when detecting a vehicle, pedestrian or cyclist

ㆍ Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) is now able to detect the edge of a road, as well as the lines in the road, providing steering assistance to prevent the driver leaving their lane without signaling

ㆍ Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) provides an enhancement over the existing Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW). Instead of simply warning drivers of cars in adjacent lanes on the highway, BCA helps drivers avoid a potential collision by applying differential braking

ㆍ Driver Attention Warning (DAW) now has an increased operating speed of up to 210 kph, and also alerts drivers if they fail to notice the car in front move off from a stop

ㆍNavigation-based Smart Cruise Control (NSCC) helps drive around curved sections of a highway, automatically reducing the vehicle’s speed to an appropriate level before entering the curve. It reverts to the original speed as the vehicle leaves the curve

ㆍA similar updated has been made for reversing out of parking bays, with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) now helping to prevent collisions with crossing vehicles while reversing (previously the system only warned the driver)

ㆍ Safe Exit Warning (SEW) detects vehicles coming up from behind on either side of the Stinger when parked and stopped, alerting occupants with a sound and visual warning if they attempt to open the door into oncoming traffic

ㆍ Kia’s cutting-edge Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) technology acts as a ‘second pair of eyes’ for drivers by eliminating a driver’s left- and right-side blind spots. It displays a high-resolution video feed within the ‘Supervision’ digital instrument cluster if the driver indicates to change lane with another vehicle in their blind spot. The video feed comes from discreet wide-angle lenses hidden beneath the door mirror housings, giving drivers a wider viewing angle of their blind spots

ㆍ Highway Driving Assist (HDA) helps maintain a set distance from the vehicle in front on the highway, and keep the car in the center of its lane, even on a curved road

*Electronic Variable Exhaust Valve fitted as standard to all 3.3-liter T-GDi models except those sold in Europe and Russia (which produce 370 ps at 6,000 rpm, and 510 Nm across 1,300-4,500 rpm)

Perhaps you never thought innovation, technical excellence and exceptional style could all come together in an affordable passenger car. But finally, they do. Let the new Forte take you places you’ve only imagined.

​Distinctive sportiness combines with cutting-edge technology and advanced on-road performance to awaken the senses while opening up your world to new horizons.

The large color TFT-LCD display provides stunning visibility and touch screen capability while featuring a rear view camera display and high-end audio controls for enhanced convenience.

​Choose from two robust yet quiet petrol engines – a Gamma 1.6 MPI or the more powerful Nu 2.0 MPI unit. Each features Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT) and electronic fuel injection, while their lightweight aluminum construction ensures superb fuel economy.

With the press of a switch conveniently located on the steering wheel, auto cruise control lets you maintain a constant speed for improved fuel economy.

VSM controls brake force, engine torque and steering torque to provide improved vehicle stability during cornering or on loose or slippery road surfaces.

The newly introduced Flex Steer system provides three driving modes (Comfort, Normal, and Sport) that deliver the appropriate level of steering assistance and feedback for different driving conditions.

• With more room, more premium features, improved driving dynamics and true-to-its-roots iconic design, the all-new Soul is more fun, funky and functional than ever

NEW YORK, March 27, 2013 – The Big Apple, perhaps America"s most iconic metropolis, is playing host to the global unveiling of Kia Motors" most iconic people mover, the all-new 2014 Soul urban utility vehicle, today at the 113th New York International Auto Show. The signature Soul design is instantly recognizable yet thoroughly fresh, with more than a passing nod to the hot Track"ster concept that was unveiled last year. Riding on a new chassis that is stiffer, longer and wider, the all-new Soul has grown up without losing its edge, allowing for more passenger and cargo room while reducing NVH levels. Increased torque and significant suspension upgrades make the 2014 Soul a nimble and agile companion in congested urban environments. Honoring Soul owners" fierce individualism, three unique trim levels will be available when U.S. sales are expected to begin in the third quarter of this year: Base, Plus and Exclaim. Pricing will be announced closer to the Soul"s launch date.

"When the first Soul was introduced in 2009, everyone at Kia believed we had a hit on our hands, but we didn"t realize how big that hit was going to be," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of marketing and communications at Kia Motors America (KMA). "The Soul moved the needle significantly from a sales and marketing perspective, becoming one of our top-selling cars and inspiring the now-legendary hamster commercials. It was important that the all-new Soul remain true to the original iconic design while infusing it with improved driving dynamics and desirable features that add appeal, sophistication and value."

Keeping what made the current Soul special while addressing areas for improvement was no easy task. As the design team at Kia"s California studio began putting virtual pen to virtual paper, engineers in the U.S. and Korea focused on making Soul a joy to drive. Starting with a solid foundation was a key factor, and the new body enjoys a 28.7 percent increase in torsional rigidity over the current Soul. With the hard points set, the all-new Soul was boiled down to three focus areas: Maintaining the iconic design while adding modern cues; providing premium features and content; and improving driving dynamics that would make the 2014 Soul more desirable than ever.

Well-known for the close link between its concept vehicles and production models, Kia Motors took no chances with the 2014 Soul. When the wild Track"ster concept made its debut in 2012, Soul enthusiasts and pundits alike urged Kia to turn fantasy into reality. With 18 months from design freeze to production, the stage was set for the all-new Soul and many of the concept"s dramatic design cues can be found in the production vehicle. Tom Kearns, chief designer at the California studio likened the Track"ster to a bulldog and that theme is expressed from almost any angle of the all-new Soul.

"The all-new Soul was one of the more difficult assignments we"ve taken on," said Kearns. "Striking the right balance between the wonderful design of the current car with the audacious proportions and stance of the Track"ster was daunting. It proved to be a truly collaborative effort with guidance from Peter Schreyer in Frankfurt and assistance from our studio in Korea. In the end, we"ve kept the essence of Soul while infusing it with more presence inside and out."

The upright stance, squared shoulders and distinctive fender flares are instantly recognizable as Soul. Combining a longer 101.2-inch wheelbase (up 0.8 inches), overall width that"s broadened to 70.9 inches (increased by 0.6 inches) and the same overall height of 63.4 inches, adds a more aggressive edge to the all-new Soul"s appearance. Likewise, the wraparound greenhouse, high-mounted tail lights and tall ride height are all hallmark design elements. Premium touches such as available LED front positioning lights and rear LED "halo" lights help connect Soul to siblings within the Kia lineup that share similar design cues, such as the 2014 Sorento CUV and 2014 Forte sedan.

Exterior Track"ster similarities are easy to spot. The large trapezoidal lower air intake is nearly a direct carryover of the concept, and the location of the available fog lights – down low and pushed to the leading edges – mirror those found on the Track"ster. Kia"s signature grille is present, but it"s been reworked to more closely resemble the concept. Adding a touch of flare, the unique "floating" body color panel inset into the lift gate has its roots based in the Track"ster as well. Subtle enhancements include a wider (by 2.4 inches over the previous Soul) opening for the lift gate, allowing Soul to swallow more stuff. While final color names have yet to be determined, the 2014 Soul will be available in seven new exterior hues, including the two seen on stage in New York: Solar Yellow and Inferno Red.

Overall, the design team paid particular attention to instilling a more premium look and feel to the 2014 Soul"s interior. Liberal applications of soft-touch materials are found on the instrument panel, center console and door panels. Details such as available leather seating with improved lateral and thigh support, and the use of high-gloss piano-black trim pieces on the center console and dash elevate the Soul"s interior to new levels of sophistication.

Citing the current Soul interior as a starting point, Kia"s designers played up the circular theme found inside Track"ster. "With the previous Soul, we kind of dipped our toe in the water when it came to incorporating the circular patterns," noted Kearns. "But for the all-new Soul, we really wanted to lift as many of the Track"ster"s circular interior reference points as possible."

Front and center is the triple-circle instrument cluster with deeply recessed gauges. Along the door panels, sculpted circles incorporate the power windows and door locks. The center console features a round gear shift knob and push-button start – its location exclusive to Soul in the Kia lineup – which also are direct carryovers from Track"ster. The front door-mounted speakers mirror the circular, high-mounted "floating" tweeters and utilize available LED-string light technology to create ripple-effect red-hued mood lighting. The steering-wheel mounted controls are housed in Soul-exclusive circular groupings along the lower spokes with the buttons for the audio system and trip computer falling readily to the thumbs, enabling the driver"s hands to remain on the wheel at all times.

"If you think about droplets falling into a still pond, you begin to visualize the inspiration for the all-new Soul"s interior design," said Kearns. "The design is organic, like the human body, and we feel it makes the interior that much more appealing to the driver and passengers." Taking that appeal a step further is Soul"s desirable list of standard and optional equipment.

An attractive package is a let-down if the contents don"t deliver. Fortunately, the all-new Soul is set to delight right out of the gate. Most prominent in the new instrument panel is the available eight-inch touch screen – the largest ever offered on Soul – which houses Kia"s second-generation telematics and infotainment system, UVO eServices , combined with Kia"s first use of the Android-based operating platform. Launching with Soul, UVO eServices is now compatible with the iPhone and Android Smartphone.

UVO eServices is optional and takes in-car connectivity and media interplay to the next level, integrating a number of other Kia firsts. Topping that list is the high-definition capacitive touch screen. Its wide viewing angle affords better visibility and allows the user to scroll with the stroke of a finger. Living side-by-side for the first time in a Kia vehicle, the audio/video and optional navigation controls are viewable on the home screen. Combining the most accessed ancillary controls on a single screen helps reduce driver distraction and improves overall functionality and ease-of-use. Additionally, the available larger Supervision Cluster/TFT LCD color screen found in the instrument binnacle now displays turn-by-turn directions from the navigation system, helping to keep the driver"s eyes looking forward.

Another first is the integration of Pandora internet radio, the revolutionary online radio network that allows the user to customize their listening experience. Users will no longer manage Pandora through their Smartphone. Instead, Pandora is preloaded into the headunit and accessible through the touch screen and Voice Command, displaying the artist, title and album cover art as well as allowing the user to conveniently skip songs, "like" the song with Pandora"s thumbs-up rating system, or manage preferred stations.

Arriving with a three month complimentary subscription to SiriusXM™ Data Services and Travel Link, the all-new Soul has access to travel information such as road conditions, weather and security alerts as well as sports scores, movie times, stock prices and fuel prices through the screen"s graphical interface and electronic program guide. Better still, customers will continue to have All Access to both Sirius and XM channels for the price of one should they elect to continue a paid subscription after the three month trial period concludes.

Making all of this available technology easy to use is the industry-first integration of on-screen quick guide videos. Easily accessed through the touch screen, users have the ability to view instructional videos that highlight all of the features and functionality of UVO eServices along with the Smartphone app and MyUVO.com, including MyPOIs, powered by Google Maps. Combined, UVO eServices represents one of the most powerful and comprehensive infotainment systems on the market today. Making UVO eServices even more impressive is that there is no cost to the owner.

Technology aside, driver and passengers will enjoy a larger and significantly quieter cabin with incremental increases in front leg room (42.9 inches, 0.8 inches more than the current Soul), rear leg room (up 0.2 inches to 39.1), front headroom (increased 0.2 inches to 39.6) and front seat shoulder room (up 0.3 inches to 55.5). The all-new Soul also offers a 0.5-inch lower hip point and a step-in height that"s reduced 0.2 inches, allowing for even easier ingress and egress. Overall cargo capacity is increased by a half cubic foot, to 24.2. Liberal use of expansion foam (replacing the previously used block foam) thoroughly fills body cavities, reducing outside wind and road noise. A reinforced isolation pad in the cargo area and poly-urethane-layered carpet helps reduce overall interior noise levels by approximately 3 decibels.

The Base Soul comes standard with a long list of features that set it apart from the competition. Power windows, door locks and (heated) outside mirrors, a telescoping steering wheel and a six-speaker AM/FM/MP3 audio unit are all standard. Bluetooth® hands-free wireless technology, SiriusXM™ satellite radio with three months complimentary service and USB/AUX inputs round out the Base Soul"s impressive audio/infotainment equipment. Desirable options include remote keyless entry, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control and a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Soul Plus takes a step up in standard and available optional amenities. Attractive 17-inch alloy wheels shod with 215/55R-17 tires, outside mirror turn-signal indicators, auto-on/off head lights and unique fender garnish distinguish the Plus from the Base exterior. Inside, the Plus benefits include a floor console stowage box with integrated arm rest, UVO eServices, Rear Camera Display and rear seat center arm rest. Options include navigation, an upgraded Infinity® audio system, string-LED front speaker surround mood lighting, fog lights, a panoramic sunroof – a Soul first – leather seating with segment-exclusive ventilated front driver and passenger seats, and seat heaters for all four outboard positions, a 10-way power adjustable driver"s seat, leather wrapped and heated steering wheel and a leather-wrapped gear shift knob.

The Soul Exclaim adds to the Plus as standard features 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 235/45R-18 tires, fog lights, body-color bumper "tusks," projector head lights, front LED positioning lights and rear LED "halo" lights. Open the door and standard amenities include a high-gloss piano-black center console, cooled glove box, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob, 10-way power driver"s seat with lumbar adjustment and auto-dimming rearview mirror. Optional equipment includes navigation, Infinity audio, front speaker LED mood lighting, panoramic sunroof, leather seating with front driver and passenger ventilation and heating for all four outboard positions. Supervision Cluster/TFT LCD screen, HID head lights, push button start and automatic climate control make the Exclaim the most premium Soul ever.

Built on an all-new chassis that is nearly 29 percent stiffer than before, the Soul"s stout skeleton provides the base for a vehicle that places a premium on driving dynamics. Engineers put their efforts in strengthening the body at key connection points along the cowl, upper and lower B-pillars, cross members, and at the C-pillars. Fully, 66 percent of the chassis utilizes either Ultra High Strength Steel (35 percent) or High Strength Steel (31 percent). The A-pillar is 0.8-inches narrower, allowing for improved outward visibility, but through the use of Ultra High Strength Steel, it"s lighter and stronger. The application of structural adhesive around the door openings and along the roof also helps improve torsional rigidity.

Significant attention has been focused on improving the all-new Soul"s ride and handling through heavily revised front and rear suspension set ups. The front subframe utilizes four bushings (none are used on the current Soul) to reduce ride harshness and impact booms over rough pavement. The stabilizer bar has been moved rearward on the McPherson strut front suspension, while the steering box has been moved forward, lending better balance and subsequently improved handling.

Relocating the steering box has also yielded benefits to on-center feel. The new one-piece steering gear housing is stronger than the two-piece unit used on the current Soul, improving steering response and reducing impacts felt through the wheel. Optional is a new Flex Steer™ system, which allows the driver to select from three distinct steering settings: Comfort, Normal and Sport.

The shock absorbers on the torsion bar rear suspension have been turned vertically (they were positioned at an angle on the current Soul) and lengthened. This arrangement allows for more suspension travel, improving ride comfort.

Motivation for the Base Soul is delivered by a gasoline direct injection (GDI) 130-horsepower (at 6,300 rpm) 1.6-liter all-aluminum DOHC four-cylinder engine. The GAMMA engine produces 118 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,850 rpm. The Plus and Exclaim models enjoy the more powerful 2.0-liter NU power plant. For the all-new 2014 Soul, the engine is updated with GDI technology. Power is rated at 164 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 151 lb.-ft. of torque at a 4,000 rpm. Both engines have been tuned to provide more low-end torque (nine percent more torque at 1,500 rpm on the 2.0-liter; five percent more on 1.6-liter) for an improved around-town driving experience. The 1.6-liter engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission or, optionally, to a six-speed automatic. The Plus model may be equipped with either transmission while the Exclaim is available exclusively with the six-speed automatic.

Kia Motors America is one of only three auto brands to increase U.S. sales in each of the past four years, and in 2012 the company surpassed the 500,000 unit mark for the first time. With a full line of fun-to-drive cars and CUVs, Kia is advancing value to new levels of sophistication by combining European-influenced styling – under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer – with cutting-edge technologies, premium amenities, affordable pricing and the lowest cost of ownership in the industry. Kia recently joined the exclusive ranks of Interbrand"s "Top 100 Best Global Brands," and is poised to continue its momentum with seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles scheduled to arrive in showrooms in 2013. Over the past decade Kia Motors has invested more than $1.4 billion in the U.S., including the company"s first U.S. assembly plant in West Point, Georgia – Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia – which is responsible for the creation of more than 11,000 plant and supplier jobs. The success of the U.S.-built* Optima and Sorento in two of the industry"s largest segments has fueled Kia"s rapid growth and is complemented by Kia"s comprehensive lineup which includes the Soul urban passenger vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima Hybrid, the Forte sedan, 5-door and Koup compacts, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and the Sedona minivan.

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 765 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA. In 2012, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and gained U.S. market share for the 18th consecutive year. 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. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at http://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.