Is there a connection between Toyota and KIA?

[GrantK]

Back in September by neighbor got a new 2011 KIA Sorento and at the time I mentioned how a lot of the parts and trim looked like they were from a Toyota. Now that I have my 2012 T4R it notice it even more. Mostly it's a styling thing and gut feeling, nothing that is labeled as being made by one company and found on the other.

Is there some sort of manufacturing/sharing between Toyota and KIA?

 

[NJshadow93]

Kia and Hyundai are the Korean companies. Actually Hyundai hired someone that used to work for Toyota to help with designing mechanical parts, which supposedly improved reliability. But as far as I know, Kia and Toyota have nothing in common.

 

[Mark86]

Maybe the Japanese and Korean companies think alike? I don't know of any partnership between them. Toyota and Pontiac had a partnership with the Matrix and Vibe. If you look at both vehicles, they are almost identical.

 

[fourwd1]

Kia and Hyundai are connected.
It's quite possible that that Japanese and Korean manufacturers use some of the same suppliers for parts. For example Aisin is a big supplier of several Japanese manufacturers, even Jeeps.

 

[Wepps]

The head of Hyundai brought in an Audi designer to remake Kia.

 

[BucknutBob]

The head of Hyundai brought in an Audi designer to remake Kia.

That has sure worked out a lot better than when BMW brought in an American designer--screwed their cars all up! Just as one might expect, the style turned gimmicky overnight.