The Hyundai Kia Automotive Group (Korean: 현대-기아 자동차 그룹) was formed through the merging of South Korea's largest car company, Hyundai Motor Company, and the nation's second largest car company, Kia Motors in 1998. It is the world's fifth largest automaker as of 2008.[1] The Hyundai Kia Automotive Group also refers to the group of affiliated companies interconnected by complex shareholding arrangements, with Hyundai Motor Company regarded as the de facto representative of the Group. It is the second largest South Korean chaebol or conglomerate after Samsung Group and was previously known as the Hyundai Motor Group.
