Kia Rules and Regulations 
Kia Motors America
Kia.com Dealer Locator Link-out Policy and Dealer Website Standards & Guidelines
In 2003 KMA launched an exclusive, Kia-endorsed dealer website program which provides consistent, progressive brand communications to our online consumers. Kia has partnered with The Cobalt Group, the industry-leader in online retailing solutions, as the exclusive provider for the Kia-endorsed dealer website solution to our network of Kia dealers. The Cobalt Kia-endorsed Dealer Website Program is the best, most efficient, and professional way for dealers to represent the Kia brand online.

The value and impact of the Internet and the 1,000,000+ monthly visitors to Kia.com are critical to KMA's future growth. KMA will support dealer website hyperlinks from Kia.com to sites that promote Kia and Kia products only.

Beginning May 1, 2005, all Kia dealer websites hyperlinked from the Kia.com dealer locator will be reviewed for compliance with KMA standards & guidelines. A Cobalt representative, on behalf of KMA, will contact dealers with non-compliant sites and review options that will put them in compliance. Non-compliant dealer website hyperlinks will be removed from the Kia.com dealer locator on September 1, 2005.

While dealership information such as name, address, email and phone will continue to be listed on Kia.com, and leads from Kia.com will continue to be sent to dealerships, the dealership website hyperlink will be removed. To ensure dealer websites maintain compliance, semi-annual audits will be performed.

Policy Requirements:
  • All authorized Kia dealerships of record are eligible to participate in the Kia-endorsed Dealer Website Program.
  • Only exclusive Kia-branded dealer websites will be hyperlinked from the dealer locator on Kia.com.
  • Kia dealer websites must contain basic dealership contact information including dealership name (Kia dba only) address, phone, business hours and e-mail address.
  • Dealers must post new Kia vehicle inventory and/or new Kia model information on the dealer website.
  • The only automotive manufacturer names that may appear on the dealer website are "Kia" and other Kia model names.
  • Links to other dealership franchise website(s) sites are permitted to appear within the dealer site, but may not appear on the homepage, and may not mention competitive brands.
  • Dealers may not use a URL that suggests they are the "exclusive, preferred or dominant Kia dealer" in a large geographic area such as a state or multi point market. Examples of unacceptable URLs are: ChicagoKia.com, ColoradoKia.com, SouthFloridaKia.com.
  • All Kia logos, taglines and new vehicle images must be current and/or reflect current model year.
  • All Kia logo and tagline usage must comply with current KMA brand usage guidelines.
  • Special program names, icons or other intellectual property used on the Kia corporate site may be used on a dealership website with prior written authorization from KMA only.
  • Kia dealers must, as a condition of participation in the Kia-endorsed Dealer Web Site Program, hold Kia Motors America, Inc. (KMA) and The Cobalt Group harmless and indemnify them as outlined in the Dealer "Internet Enrollment Form" agreement.
  • All web site content must meet local, state and federal regulations. It is the Kia dealer's responsibility to determine all regulations and abide by them. KMA will not be held accountable for any dealership in violation of these requirements. Any liability resulting from the content of a Kia dealer's web site shall be the sole responsibility of the dealer.
  • Material containing sexual, political, racial or religious overtones is forbidden from all content. Any liability arising from the content of the dealer's website shall be the dealer's sole responsibility.
  • KMA has the final decision in all matters relating to the interpretation and application of any rule or phase of this Program as well as all "standards" and "guidelines."  KMA also reserves the right to cancel, amend or revoke the Program at any time.
Recommendations:
  • The use of the Kia brand name within a custom URL (website address) and/or email address is recommended, e.g. www.smithkia.com or www.kiaofsmithville.com.
  • All Internet leads should be responded to as soon as possible within the same day. Industry research indicates that the quicker the response, the more likely the consumer will engage in dialogue with the dealership and, ultimately, purchase a vehicle from that dealership. Dealerships should respond to off-hour / off-day inquiries before 9:00 a.m. the next morning.
  • All e-mail correspondence with consumers should contain the following information:
    • Dealership name (Kia dba)
    • Contact person name and title
    • Phone
    • Fax
    • Email address
    • Dealership website address
KIA