Kia Motors Extends NBA Partnerships

Kia Motors America has extended its partnership with nine NBA teams, and added Golden State Warriors to their roll call.

Vice-President of marketing and communications for Kia Motors America, Michael Sprague, has expressed his delight in the agreement.

“Kia’s involvement with the NBA and nearly half of the league’s teams has dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand and was a major factor in our best-ever sales total in 2011″.

Kia is in its fifth year as the official automotive partner of the NBA and has established relationships with the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, as well as new addition Golden State.

The Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic and Portland Trail Blazers are also on Kia Motors’ roster in 2011-12 as part of multi-year agreements.

Sprague added, “All of our team partnerships leverage the excitement of the game and increase Kia’s interaction with the passionate fan bases in each market, and we are proud to add the Golden State Warriors to our roster and establish a relationship with Bay Area basketball fans”.

Kia’s US sales have increased 78% since 2008 and the company has stated its growth is a direct corollary of the expansion in brand awareness via high-profile partnerships, including professional basketball.