Spanish tennis sensation Rafael Nadal becomes global brand ambassador for KIA Motors

(Amman) Sep, 2006 -- Kia Motors announced earlier this month that it has made an agreement with tennis sensation Rafael Nadal in which the young Spaniard will act as a global brand ambassador for the Korean car maker.

Nadal, who is just 20 years old, will appear in Kia’s global advertising campaigns in TV and print media over the next two years (until 2008). He will also help to promote the Kia brand by taking part in various initiatives held by the automaker, including major international motor shows.

In commenting on the agreement, General Manager of National Arab Motors – KIA Motors said: “We are pleased with this alliance which comes in harmony with the company’s approach in supporting sports events and youth activities which mirrors KIA’s spirit and image represented through innovation and creativity.”

Rafael Nadal said, “I am delighted to have this opportunity to represent a world class automaker such as Kia. I will do my best to promote the Kia brand across all of its key global markets by continuing to improve my play on the court.”

Along with its sponsorship of the Australian Open and the world’s premier international team tennis competition “Davis Cup”, Kia has stepped up its sports marketing activities elsewhere in the tennis arena. Kia provided its flagship Opirus premium and Carnival models as courtesy vehicles for women’s tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams when they played a recent promotional match in Korea.

Aside from tennis, Kia has boosted its brand through other sports marketing initiatives, such as becoming an official automotive partner of FIFA, effective 2007 ~ 2014. The company is also building its ‘exciting & enabling’ image through the sponsorship of the Asian X Games.
-Ends-

Mouath Tarshihi
Tel : 0096265520791
Fax : 0096265519271

Kia Motors Corporation (www.kiamotors.com or www.kia.com) -- one of the fastest growing automakers in the world -- was founded in 1944 and is Korea’s oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to become one of the world’s premier automotive brands. Kia’s 12 manufacturing and assembly operations in 7 countries produce more than 1.1 million vehicles a year that are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 160 countries. Kia today has over 32,500 employees and annual revenues of almost $16 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Tennis Open and an official worldwide sponsor of the Davis Cup. From 2007 to 2014, Kia will be 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 surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.

This release was published on openPR.