车圈“苏超”，盐城的高光与逆袭

Group 1 - Kia has been a long-time sponsor of the FIFA World Cup since 2002 and established a joint venture in Yancheng, China, marking the beginning of Korean automotive influence in the region [1] - The establishment of Dongfeng Yueda Kia in 2001 was a strategic move to obtain the necessary production qualifications for passenger vehicles, as Yueda lacked the required licenses [2] - Yueda Kia initially thrived in the mid-range market with models like K2 and Cerato, achieving peak sales of 650,000 units in 2016, but faced a dramatic decline in sales to 360,000 units in 2017, a drop of 45% [3] Group 2 - The partnership with Dongfeng ended in 2021 when Dongfeng sold its shares back to Yueda, leading to a shift in focus towards exports, with 63,000 units exported in the first half of 2023, contributing to half of total sales [3][5] - The establishment of HiPhi by Huaren Yuntong in Yancheng aimed at high-end electric vehicles, but faced challenges with low sales volumes and significant debt, leading to a halt in production in early 2024 [4] - Yueda Kia has introduced electric models like the EV6 and EV5, while also investing in new partnerships, such as a 166 million yuan investment in FAW Bestune, indicating ongoing efforts to transition to new energy vehicle manufacturing [5]