<P> Kia was founded in December 1944 as Kyungsung Precision Industry, a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycle parts, eventually producing Korea's first domestic bicycle, the Samchully, in 1951 . In 1952, Kyungsung Precision Industry changed its name to Kia Industries, and later built Honda - licensed small motorcycles (starting in 1957), Mazda - licensed trucks (1962) and cars (1974). The company opened its first integrated automotive assembly plant in 1973, the Sohari Plant . Kia built the small Brisa range of cars until 1981, when production came to an end after the new military dictator Chun Doo - hwan enforced industry consolidation . This forced Kia to give up passenger cars and focus entirely on light trucks . Prior to the forced 1981 shutdown, Kia rounded out its passenger car lineup with two other foreign models assembled under license: the Fiat 132 and the Peugeot 604 . </P> <P> Starting in 1986 (when only 26 cars were manufactured, followed by over 95,000 the next year), Kia rejoined the automobile industry in partnership with Ford . Kia produced several Mazda - derived vehicles for both domestic sales in South Korea and for export into other countries . These models included the Kia Pride, based on the Mazda 121, and the Avella, which were sold in North America and Australasia as the Ford Festiva and Ford Aspire . </P> <P> In 1992, Kia Motors America was incorporated in the United States . The first Kia - branded vehicles in the United States were sold from four dealerships in Portland, Oregon, in February 1994 . Since then, Kia methodically expanded one region at a time . Dealers in 1994 sold the Sephia; and a few years later, the United States segment expanded their line with the addition of the Sportage . Over one hundred Kia dealerships existed across thirty states by 1995, selling a record 24,740 automobiles . </P> <P> However, during the Asian financial crisis, Kia declared bankruptcy in 1997; and in 1998 reached an agreement with Hyundai Motor Company to diversify by exchanging ownership between both companies . Hyundai Motor Company acquired 51% of the company, outbidding Ford Motor Company which had owned an interest in Kia Motors since 1986 . After subsequent divestments, Hyundai Motor Company owns about one third of Kia Motor Corporation . While Hyundai Motor Company remains Kia's largest stakeholder, Kia Motor Company also retains ownership in some 22 different Hyundai Motor Company subsidiaries . </P>

When did kia start selling cars in the us