Kia named Won-Jeong Jeong as president of its European operations.
Jeong succeeds Jong Kew Park, who returns to the automaker’s headquarters in South Korea to take up a new post. Emilio Herrera will remain Kia’s chief operating officer for Europe.
In his new role, Jeong will oversee the launch of Kia’s new brand identity in Europe that aims to raise perceptions of the automaker as a leader in electrification, particularly among Millennial and ‘Generation-Z’ consumers, Kia in a news release.
Kia plans to sell 11 full-electric vehicles globally by the end of 2025. COO Herrera said in an interview with Automotive News Europe the European range will include 7 full-electric vehicles by 2022. (https://europe.autonews.com/automakers/kia-europe-ready-new-emission-rules-thanks-its-evs-coo-herrera-says).
The automaker currently sells in Europe the Niro and Soul full-electric cars; the Niro and Optima plug-in hybrids; the Niro is also available as a full-hybrid.
In an interview with Automotive News Europe in 2019, Herrera said Kia will add plug-in hybrid versions of the XCeed and Ceed station wagon in Europe in 2020. The recently launched Sorento midsize SUV will also have plug-in hybrid and full hybrid versions.
A full-electric car based on the Imagine concept will come in 2021, Herrera said. A fuel cell vehicle will be available in late 2020 or early 2021. It is not clear yet how much those plans will be impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Jeong started his career with Hyundai Motor Group in 1992 and has held various leadership roles at Kia since 1999, including head and Kia in Russia and managerial positions at Kia in the UK and at its European headquarters in Frankfurt.
Kia’s vehicle sales in the European Union rose 2 percent to 493,899 last year for a 3.2 percent market share, according to data from industry association ACEA.