- Kia Soul EV recognised at Prix Auto Environnement MAAF 2015 awards
- French journalists reward Kia for commitment to zero emissions motoring
- Kia Soul EV adds to its collection of accolades
(SEOUL) June 10, 2015
–– Kia Motors has picked up further international recognition for its Kia Soul EV, with the latest accolade arriving from France via the prestigious Prix Auto Environnement MAAF 2015 awards.
The Kia Soul EV, the company’s first 100% electric urban crossover, won in the ‘Alternative Energy City Car’ category. Established in 2005, the Prix Auto Environnement MAAF 2015 rewards innovation and technology that promotes sustainable mobility, with a jury composed of journalists from automotive and environmental sectors.
Soon-Nam Lee, Vice President of Overseas Marketing at Kia Motors, commented, “This latest accolade for the Kia Soul EV brings further recognition for our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability through zero emissions motoring. The car also looks great and is fun to drive – we hope this winning combination will attract more customers to Kia.”
The Kia Soul EV has been rewarded with a number of top global honours, including ‘Car of the Year’ by Dagbladet, Autofil and Dinside in Norway; ‘Best Eco-Friendly Vehicle’ in MotorWeek's 34th annual Drivers' Choice Awards in the US; and ‘2015 Canadian Green Car Award’ by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. It was also named a 2015 Vincentric ‘Best Value in America’ award winner in the Electric/Plug-in Hybrid category.
The Kia Soul EV has also won international plaudits for its looks. The car picked up a ‘Red Dot’ for outstanding product design in the 2015 Red Dot Awards – one of the most highly-respected international design competitions. This followed on from a ‘GOOD DESIGN’ award, a Chicago-based program which recognises contemporary design excellence, earlier in January.
The Soul EV is a battery electric vehicle ideally suited for city commuters thanks to its class-leading drive range, a spacious cabin and generous cargo area. Featuring a high-capacity 192-cell 27 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack, the Soul EV can drive 212 km on a single charge.
About Kia Motors Corporation
Kia Motors Corporation (www.kia.com) – a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart – was founded in 1944 and is Korea's oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. Over 3 million Kia vehicles a year are produced in 10 manufacturing and assembly operations in five countries which are then sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering around 180 countries. Kia today has around 49,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues of nearly US$45 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Open and 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 surprise the world by providing exciting and inspiring experiences that go beyond expectations.
