Well with the year drawing to a conclusion, we thought it would be a good idea to look back over 2005 and reflect on what has been another good year for Kia and the Picanto.
Kia products and services have won 16 major awards in 20 countries around the world this year and the Picanto has enjoyed its fair share of success as well.
February saw Kia presented with the ‘Best Marketing Award’ for the ground-breaking animated TV advertising campaign for the Kia Picanto in the UK. The ´Think about it´ theme enabled Kia to talk to its target audience in a highly entertaining and thoroughly memorable manner.
The SAN Accent awards came in May which is a famous annual event in the world of advertising. In the ´consumer durables´ section, Kia won an award for its innovative ´Lekker Fel´ (Very Fierce) campaign of TV commercials, billboards and press advertising for the Picanto.
Also in May, Hungarian car magazine Auto2, the local Info Radio and the daily newspaper Nepszabadsag, presented an award for the ‘Best 12 Cars’ based on a selection of the top dozen models tested during the previous 12 months. This year the Kia Picanto was included in the award winners.
By June 2005, Kia’s smallest car, the Picanto, has become its biggest seller in Europe with almost 32,000 units delivered already this year. And to top this success, the Most Economical Car award presented by the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club (ADAC), reveals the Kia Picanto to be the most economical four-seater in the A-segment. Total ownership costs calculated over a four-year period, covering 15,000 kilometers each year, came to €4,537 or just 03.2 cents per kilometer.
So four major awards in 2005 shows the contribution the Picanto is making to Kia’s overall strategy and playing its part in establishing them as one of the worlds biggest car makers.
Summary of Awards in 2005
- 22nd February – Best Marketing Award – Automotive Management (UK)
- 4th May – Consumer Durables 2004 – SAN Accent (Netherlands)
- 10th June – Best 12 Cars – Nepszabadsag (Hungary)
- 20th July – Most Economical Car – ADAC (Germany)
Naturally we see this success continuing in 2006 and predict the diesel Picanto will establish itself as one of the best small diesel cars in its segment. Watch this space!
