History of cars # 10 - Asia

Asia Motors Co.Ltd - a small South Korean company specializing in the production of cars such as jeep, light vans, medium and heavy trucks, multi-seat buses. The headquarters is in Seoul.

In 1965, under license, the first M-38A1 off-roader was assembled. Initially, SUVs repeated the design of the US military Jayer and were manufactured only for the army.

In 1976, Asia Motors entered the Kia concern, which retained its name for its jeeps and trucks, and along with KIA cars, its off-road company began to produce ASIA off-road vehicles. With the purchase of Asia Motors Co. Further consolidation of KIA is connected. The most famous model of this company is the all-wheel drive jeep Rocsta AM102, which is offered on the market with two types of engine (petrol and diesel). This is one of the cheapest cars of this class.

Since 1994, the cars of Asia have started to go on sale, and exports to foreign markets have also started.

In 1997, at the auto show in Seoul, a modernized SUV was named Asia Motors Retona, which began production in 1998. In 1997, the company produced about 200,000 cars.

At present, South Korean company Hyundai Motor became the new owner of Asia Motors.

In Europe, Asia is known for its light and inexpensive Rocsta SUVs. Rocsta is offered in the classic old-fashioned style of the Jeep CJ, as well as the newer Rocsta R2. Ordinary Rocsta is available in Soft Top (soft top) and Hard Top (removable hard top). A more modern model Retona in some European countries is sold as Kia Retona. In the South Korean market, it is equipped with a petrol engine of 1.8 liters. (78 hp) and a diesel engine of 2.2 liters. (61 hp) in versions Soft Top and Hard Top. The model under the Kia brand is slightly different in engines and performance.

In addition, Asia Motors also produces a series of light wagon Hi-Topic AM725 in variants: van, cargo-passenger, minibus, refrigerator. The South Korean market also includes vans and pickup trucks, medium and heavy trucks, saddle trunk tractors, military off-road vehicles and four-wheel-drive trucks.