It's the same economic shift we see since industrial revolution.
Nobody here remembers, but one Italy was the cheapest labor. Everyone produced cheep stuff there. Then some companies started to produce quality product (and win races with what was cheap cars) and to be proud of made in Italy (which was a bad thing before). And when Italian design became expensive, markets moved on.
I think there was another country in this step, but let's say cheap labor is now in Japan. When it started, only college students would buy Japanese cars (death traps) and Japanese stuff was deemed cheap. Come the same cycle. Companies start to show pride and produce quality stuff. Now made in Japan is expensive.
Market moves on to China... Kia is now the car of the new rich with bad taste. But this will change soon (they are even trying to win prestigious rally in Africa) and soon Chinese products are going to be expensive. And probably some Latin or African country will be the next cheap labor.
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It's the same economic shift we see since industrial revolution.
Nobody here remembers, but one Italy was the cheapest labor. Everyone produced cheep stuff there. Then some companies started to produce quality product (and win races with what was cheap cars) and to be proud of made in Italy (which was a bad thing before). And when Italian design became expensive, markets moved on.
I think there was another country in this step, but let's say cheap labor is now in Japan. When it started, only college students would buy Japanese cars (death traps) and Japanese stuff was deemed cheap. Come the same cycle. Companies start to show pride and produce quality stuff. Now made in Japan is expensive.
Market moves on to China... Kia is now the car of the new rich with bad taste. But this will change soon (they are even trying to win prestigious rally in Africa) and soon Chinese products are going to be expensive. And probably some Latin or African country will be the next cheap labor.
Kia is from Korea.
You are correct. I think Korea is the country i couldn't remember before :)
And it's following the pattern alright. Kia, Hyundai, lg.
All companies that started with race-to-the-bottom products that are now trying to be market leaders
Yup, Kia/Hyundai are from Korea, and the cars sold in EU are also made in EU.
> Kia is now the car of the new rich with bad taste.
Perhaps it is. I wouldn't know.
Here in sweden, Kia is kind of popular (the Sorento SUV has a large market share), and has a reputation as being good quality to a reasonable price.