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Kia honoured twice at 2024 Newsweek World’s Greatest Auto Disruptors Awards

News magazine Newsweek recently held their third annual ‘World’s Greatest Auto Disruptors Awards’ at its headquarters in New York. These awards were established to honor trailblazers in the automotive industry who are driving innovation and shaping the future. Kia achieved notable success at the event, proudly claiming two awards. Kia’s groundbreaking work was recognised with the ‘Research and Development Disruptor of the Year’ award for the EV9, while Executive Vice President Karim Habib, Head of Kia Global Design, was honored with the ‘Design Disruptor of the Year’ award for his exceptional contributions.

Head of Kia Global Design, Karim Habib, named ‘Designer Disruptor of the Year’ for groundbreaking ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy
Kia EV9 awarded ‘Research and Development Disruptor of the Year’ for innovative applications of advanced technologies
Newsweek awards, now in their third year, recognise those driving fundamental, transformative change with measurable real-world results
Awards are latest in long line of recognition for innovative Hyundai Motor Group products and personnel

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Discover the press release from Kia New Zealand below.

Research & Development of the year Award Kia

Press Release From Kia Global:

Kia is celebrating victory in two key categories at this year’s Newsweek World’s Greatest Auto Disruptors Awards, with the all-electric EV9 winning ‘Research and Development Disruptor of the Year’ and its Head of Kia Global Design, Executive Vice President Karim Habib, named ‘Design Disruptor of the Year’.

Announced during an event at Newsweek HQ in New York, the World’s Greatest Auto Disruptors Awards recognise those driving fundamental, transformative change with measurable real-world results.

A central figure in Kia’s success since his arrival in 2019, EVP Karim Habib is the driving force behind the brand’s award-winning Opposites United design philosophy. Taking inspiration from the contrasts found in nature and humanity, Opposites United shapes the exterior, interior, colour, and materials employed across all new Kia models, and is particularly evident in the striking styling of the all-electric EV9.

Speaking upon the announcement of his award, EVP Karim said “It makes me extremely happy that Kia is seen as pushing the boundaries when it comes to design, and I believe that it is essential for designers to consistently take creative risks… We want our brand to provide environmentally responsible mobility for all; and we want our brand to be a symbol of innovation and progressive solutions.”

Winner of Kia’s second award of the evening, for ‘Research and Development Disruptor of the Year’, the Kia EV9 features multiple innovative R&D features and brings next generation technology, luxury, and efficiency to more buyers than ever before.

“Kia R&D is driven by process, but not limited by it. At Kia, that means our engineers have the agency and trust to accelerate development, continue to pioneer new technology, and deliver improvements faster than the industry average. The EV9 was designed to reshape expectations in the segment, but affordability is a defining factor in the three-row mainstream segment—especially for growing families. We wanted the EV9 to offer the best of everything, without passing on those costs to the consumer.” -Heuiwon Yang, President and Head of Kia R&D Division

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