SEOUL: The head of South Korea’s second-largest automaker Kia Motors has resigned to take responsibility for the recall of tens of thousands of cars over faulty electrical wiring, the company said Tuesday.
Chung Sung-Eun, who is also a vice chairman of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, stepped down after Kia had to issue a global recall of 85,900 vehicles, spokesman Michael Choo told AFP.
The four models involved are the Soul, Sorento and Borrego sport utility vehicles, and the Cadenza sedan.
In China a Kia Motors joint venture, Dongfeng Yueda Kia Motor Co, on Monday separately recalled 18,147 Sorento, Borrego and Soul models.
Yonhap news agency reported that Chung was sacked by group chairman Chung Mong-Koo.
Hyundai and Kia together form the world’s fifth largest automaking group and have been pushing hard in recent years to improve quality.
Kia’s second-quarter net profit this year soared 61 percent year-on-year thanks to strong sales in domestic and overseas markets. It makes cars in the United States, Slovakia and China as well as South Korea.
