New Kia logo causes confusion, people search for 'KN car' instead

RahulNagaraj · 23rd November 2022, 11:28

Kia revamped its logo in 2021, replacing the old circular logo with a more modern & minimalistic look. However, even after a year, people are still getting confused about what the new logo stands for.

According to reports, every month around 30,000 people in the USA are actively searching for what the 'KN car' is. Google trend statistics show an uptick in people searching 'KN car' since March 2021, around the same time when the new logo was introduced. The number of people searching for the 'KN car' also increased when the Kia Stinger went on sale sporting the new logo.

Reports & statistics also mention how people are able to get the name of the model right but aren't able to figure out the brand name from the logo. Search trends show people searching for 'KN Carnival car' or 'KN Telluride car'.

The Google Trends statistics show that the confusion is mainly in countries like the United States of America, Canada, Australia & the United Kingdom. The main keyword search in these countries is said to be for KN car, KN SUV, KN car brand electric, KN car brand price & what is KN; among a few others.

The confusion was first brought to light by a Twitter user, who posted "the new Kia logo is so unreadable that at least 30k people a month search for the 'KN car' ever since its debut".

Source: HT Auto

Link to Team-BHP news

benbsb29 · 23rd November 2022, 11:31

I kid you not, my daughter asked me the same.

This coming from someone who knows about Kia as a company.

veedub89 · 23rd November 2022, 11:39

This is so hilarious!

I remember when this logo was first put on a car and Mat Watson commentated on the logo saying that it looks like "K backwards-N".

Apparently a lot more people are seeing it that way.

BrokenHW · 23rd November 2022, 11:53

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/et-ce...ml#post5441956 (The Official Joke thread)

Had posted this in official jokes thread , post no 10605

rohitoasis · 23rd November 2022, 12:10

The fact that these searches are happening is a testament to how striking each of the Kia design is. Isn't it some kind of an achievement that a lot of non car enthusiasts like what they see and they end up searching for these cars.

It could be also a theory that people find these hideous and they search it. But i prefer to see it as a glass half full.

PrasunBannerjee · 23rd November 2022, 12:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by veedub89

This is so hilarious!

I remember when this logo was first put on a car and Mat Watson commentated on the logo saying that it looks like "K backwards-N".

Apparently a lot more people are seeing it that way.

That was Doug I guess

RedTerrano · 23rd November 2022, 12:18

Sadly no name disclosed. Just "A" German agency

Quote:

To mark the launch of Kia’s new business strategy and updated slogan, ‘movement that inspires’, the car brand has revealed a new logo created to look like a handwritten signature, which was developed by a German agency, CR has been told.

https://www.creativereview.co.uk/kia-logo-branding/

@torquistic · 23rd November 2022, 12:25

On one side it appears hilarious but if we look at the other aspect, this shows how popular their cars are getting in these countries. People are curious about their cars and that's what the company would want. Must say it's a great strategy by Kia.

AkMar · 23rd November 2022, 12:32

One of my family member also read it as KN.

lemedico · 23rd November 2022, 14:03

It's an amusing little gaffe, but then again not everyone on the planet is a Bhpian with proper knowledge about names and brands.

Anyway, I fixed the logo.

Miel · 23rd November 2022, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by RahulNagaraj

The confusion was first brought to light by a Twitter user, who posted "the new Kia logo is so unreadable that at least 30k people a month search for the 'KN car' ever since its debut".

What nonsense

!!!
Everyone knows it actually spells " Ian ". See this:

Okay jokes aside, I preferred the older cleaner " K I A " logo. Maybe, the company got tired of "Killed-In-Action" jokes from Japanese brand loyalists

fhdowntheline · 24th November 2022, 15:57

I wasn't a fan earlier, but now like the vibe of the new logo. It looks cool, yet a wee bit cryptic. Reminds me of the original Indian Airlines IA logo, which looked pretty appealing as did the airplane lettering.

Malyaj · 24th November 2022, 18:21

Ok laugh at me as much as you want, but when we took delivery of our Seltos last week I didn't even know that the logo on the bonnet was a refreshed one. I always thought that is the only logo they ever had

After I found this thread I searched for the old logo and had a 'ah yes!' moment.

GForceEnjoyer · 24th November 2022, 20:13

Wait, you're telling me that the logo doesn't spell "KVI"???

Looks like someone has to read up on The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding!

This gave me a good laugh, having been a victim of misreading the logo in multiple different ways myself.

23rd November 2022, 11:28	#1
RahulNagaraj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,119 Thanked: 20,604 Times	New Kia logo causes confusion, people search for 'KN car' instead Kia revamped its logo in 2021, replacing the old circular logo with a more modern & minimalistic look. However, even after a year, people are still getting confused about what the new logo stands for. According to reports, every month around 30,000 people in the USA are actively searching for what the 'KN car' is. Google trend statistics show an uptick in people searching 'KN car' since March 2021, around the same time when the new logo was introduced. The number of people searching for the 'KN car' also increased when the Kia Stinger went on sale sporting the new logo. Reports & statistics also mention how people are able to get the name of the model right but aren't able to figure out the brand name from the logo. Search trends show people searching for 'KN Carnival car' or 'KN Telluride car'. The Google Trends statistics show that the confusion is mainly in countries like the United States of America, Canada, Australia & the United Kingdom. The main keyword search in these countries is said to be for KN car, KN SUV, KN car brand electric, KN car brand price & what is KN; among a few others. The confusion was first brought to light by a Twitter user, who posted "the new Kia logo is so unreadable that at least 30k people a month search for the 'KN car' ever since its debut". Source: HT Auto Link to Team-BHP news Last edited by RahulNagaraj : 23rd November 2022 at 11:30.
	(27) Thanks

23rd November 2022, 11:31	#2
benbsb29 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,968 Thanked: 13,206 Times View My Garage	Re: New Kia logo causes confusion, people search for 'KN car' instead I kid you not, my daughter asked me the same. This coming from someone who knows about Kia as a company.
	(13) Thanks

23rd November 2022, 11:39	#3
veedub89 BHPian Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 518 Thanked: 1,079 Times	Re: New Kia logo causes confusion, people search for 'KN car' instead This is so hilarious! I remember when this logo was first put on a car and Mat Watson commentated on the logo saying that it looks like "K backwards-N". Apparently a lot more people are seeing it that way.
	(9) Thanks

23rd November 2022, 11:53	#4
BrokenHW BHPian Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 132 Thanked: 498 Times	Re: New Kia logo causes confusion, people search for 'KN car' instead https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/et-ce...ml#post5441956 (The Official Joke thread) Had posted this in official jokes thread , post no 10605
	(3) Thanks

23rd November 2022, 12:10	#5
rohitoasis BHPian Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Palakkad Posts: 608 Thanked: 1,382 Times	Re: New Kia logo causes confusion, people search for 'KN car' instead The fact that these searches are happening is a testament to how striking each of the Kia design is. Isn't it some kind of an achievement that a lot of non car enthusiasts like what they see and they end up searching for these cars. It could be also a theory that people find these hideous and they search it. But i prefer to see it as a glass half full.
	(3) Thanks

23rd November 2022, 12:25	#8
@torquistic Newbie Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: UP78 Posts: 18 Thanked: 41 Times	Re: New Kia logo causes confusion, people search for 'KN car' instead On one side it appears hilarious but if we look at the other aspect, this shows how popular their cars are getting in these countries. People are curious about their cars and that's what the company would want. Must say it's a great strategy by Kia.
	() Thanks

23rd November 2022, 12:32	#9
AkMar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,183 Thanked: 2,604 Times	Re: New Kia logo causes confusion, people search for 'KN car' instead One of my family member also read it as KN.
	() Thanks

23rd November 2022, 14:03	#10
lemedico BHPian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Agra, Cambridge Posts: 592 Thanked: 1,779 Times	Re: New Kia logo causes confusion, people search for 'KN car' instead It's an amusing little gaffe, but then again not everyone on the planet is a Bhpian with proper knowledge about names and brands. Anyway, I fixed the logo. Attached Thumbnails
	(4) Thanks

24th November 2022, 15:57	#12
fhdowntheline Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Pune Posts: 2,483 Thanked: 7,452 Times	Re: New Kia logo causes confusion, people search for 'KN car' instead I wasn't a fan earlier, but now like the vibe of the new logo. It looks cool, yet a wee bit cryptic. Reminds me of the original Indian Airlines IA logo, which looked pretty appealing as did the airplane lettering. Last edited by fhdowntheline : 24th November 2022 at 15:59.
	() Thanks

24th November 2022, 18:21	#13
Malyaj BHPian Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bangalore Posts: 235 Thanked: 2,876 Times	Re: New Kia logo causes confusion, people search for 'KN car' instead Ok laugh at me as much as you want, but when we took delivery of our Seltos last week I didn't even know that the logo on the bonnet was a refreshed one. I always thought that is the only logo they ever had After I found this thread I searched for the old logo and had a 'ah yes!' moment. Last edited by Malyaj : 24th November 2022 at 18:43.
	() Thanks

24th November 2022, 20:13	#14
GForceEnjoyer BHPian Join Date: May 2022 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 454 Thanked: 3,039 Times View My Garage	Re: New Kia logo causes confusion, people search for 'KN car' instead Wait, you're telling me that the logo doesn't spell "KVI"??? Looks like someone has to read up on The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding! This gave me a good laugh, having been a victim of misreading the logo in multiple different ways myself. Last edited by GForceEnjoyer : 24th November 2022 at 20:42.
	(1) Thanks