With a historic record of expertise in the Kingdom's automotive sector.

Jeddah, March 31, 2008: The Saudi auto market recently witnessed the affiliation of the Saudi company KIA Motors Saudi Arabia with Al Jabr Group, which constitutes one of the largest business groups in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Abdel Latif Hamad, Chief Executive of KIA Automotive Saudi Arabia, expressed his satisfaction with the new arrangement, saying: "Korean automotive companies are regarded as being pioneers and their products have high standing in global markets. KIA vehicles in particular have become well established in Saudi Arabia and we believe that there is enormous potential for growth as we shall be introducing new models that fit into various categories to suit all sectors of the Kingdom's auto market."

He went on to say: "We are determined to achieve new sales records and have completed our strategic planning for the next phase of operations, which will enable us to increase KIA sales to levels never before seen in the Saudi market. In support of our ambitious targets, we assure our customers of the highest level of after-sales care, maintenance and spare parts availability, delivered by fully qualified auto engineers and technicians."

The capabilities of Al Jabr Group meet all the factors that qualify them to fulfill the requirements of their customers through an integrated network of vehicle retail outlets in the Kingdom coupled with a fully stocked spare parts warehouse and private vehicle workshops equipped with the latest tools and equipment.  

The history of Al Jabr Group dates back to 1952 when Sheikh Hamad Mohamed Al Jabr and his sons emerged in the world of business and commerce starting with operations in the food sector. For years later, in 1956, the company opened its second branch in Al-Khobar. Over a period of more than half a century the Group has built up a solid commercial and financial reputation and today consists of variety of companies including Al Jabr for Vehicles and Services, Al Jabr for Soft Drinks, Al Jabr for Electronics, Al Jabr for Real Estate, Al Jabr Laundries, Al Jabr for Insurance, and the Gulf cardboard factory.

The Al Jabr Group is a proactive practitioner of social responsibility and each year commits millions of riyals to support various charitable projects for the benefit of the community.

KIA Motors Corporation (www.kiamotors.com or www.kia.com) -- one of the fastest growing automakers in the world -- was founded in 1944 and is Korea's oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-KIA Automotive Group, KIA aims to become one of the world's premier automotive brands. KIA's 13 manufacturing and assembly operations in 9 countries produce more than 1.3 million vehicles a year that are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 165 countries. KIA today has over 33,000 employees and annual revenues of almost $19 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Tennis Open and an official worldwide sponsor of the Davis Cup. From 2007 to 2014, KIA will be an official automotive partner of FIFA -- the governing body of the FIFA World Cup. KIA Motors Corporation's brand slogan -- "The Power to Surprise" -- represents the company's global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.

-Ends-

For further information, please contact:
Ahmed Al Hassani
Media Manager
TRACCS - KSA
Tel: +966 2 663-2525       
Fax: +966 2 660-1874    
Email: ahmed.alhassani@traccs.net

© Press Release 2008