Asia Motors
A company that has undergone numerous transitions, Asia Motors Co is based in South Korea and focuses on the manufacturing of large and medium trucks, lightweight cars and special military vehicles. In addition, the company also produces motor vehicle parts.
Kia controls 28.28% of Asia Motor's issued stock and full control was taken by the dominant domestic car group in 1999. Asia Motors is currently not producing any vehicle. However, there is another car company using the name Asia Motors. Asia Motors Australia is an independent firm which manufactures vehicles in a different region.
Asia Motors Australia is best known for producing the Alexander Dennis and COSMOS buses and Daelim motorcycles. Before adopting the name Asia Motors, the company was previously known as Ian H Campbell Pty Ltd. A known maker of heavy equipment vehicles, Ian H Campbell became the firm which won the Caterpillar dealership for the Southern Hemisphere in 1968.
By the time the 1970's and 80's arrived the company was focused on manufacturing heavy and medium duty chassis for buses and sourced parts from US companies such as Rockwell, Eton and Caterpillar.
Ian Campbell's relationship with Asia Motor started in 1981 when he became an adviser of the South Korean company. Mr. Campbell provided input on proper manufacturing techniques and he helped in creating the first vehicle to be imported to Australia from Korea.
Campbell's role helped pave the way for the partnership between the car industries of South Korea and Australia. 1985 was a crucial year for the company as Mr. Campbell changed the group's name to Kia and Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Ltd. The name change signalled that the firm was the exclusive distributor of Kia vehicles in Australia. This event solidified the company's existence in the car industry and opened new doors for expansion.
However, problems arose during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, as dealers of Asia Motors became concerned over the reliability of Kia and other Asian products. In addition, buyers turned away in droves largely due to the lack of variety in models and the arrival of new competitors in the market.
However, Asia Motors (Australia) weathered this challenging period by entering new markets. The company ventured in Central Europe in 1998. Crucial in this move was the introduction of the Asia Combi Min Bus. The company initially received ten orders for the bus but this served as a springboard for growth in a new market.
By 1999 to 2002, Asia Motor focused on the importation and distribution of the Kia Combi Mini Bus and the Cosmos Bare Bus Chassis. Another popular model was the Kia Marque largely due to its competitive price and ability to mix size and style.
Another phase in Asia Motor's growth arrived in 2003 when it won the rights to become the exclusive importer of products from the Alexander Dennis company. This was a crucial achievement for Asia Motor, as it edged rivals that were aggressively bidding for the contract. With its continued emphasis on quality and growth, Asia Motor will remain a viable name in the vehicle sector for many years to come.
Original Authors: Manny
Edit Update Authors: RPN
Updated On: 21/05/2007
