NEW YORK and IRVINE, Calif. – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Kia Motors America (KMA) announced today that the league’s official automotive partner will serve as the presenting partner of the 2011 NBA Draft.

The 2011 NBA Draft presented by Kia Motors will be held at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on June 23 and will be televised live on ESPN (7pm ET).

Kia Motors will use its presenting partnership of the 2011 NBA Draft to highlight its line of vehicles, including the critically-acclaimed 2011 Optima midsize sedan — the Official Vehicle of the NBA.  The automaker will be prominently featured throughout the arena and stage set up, during the live telecast, and throughout NBA Draft coverage on NBA TV and NBA.com.  It also will present two NBA Cares Community Caravan events, which will take place in Newark and New York City prior to the NBA Draft.

“At Kia, we are true fans of the game, and following the drama and excitement of the outstanding 2010-11 season we are pleased to be expanding our basketball presence as the presenting partner of the 2011 NBA Draft,” said KMA Vice President of Marketing and Communications Michael Sprague.  “Our relationship with the NBA has significantly raised awareness and consideration for the Kia brand and our diverse lineup of stylish and fuel-efficient vehicles, and we look forward to sharing the passion and energy of the NBA Draft with basketball fans across the country and around the world.”

“The NBA Draft is one of the marquee events on the NBA calendar and Kia Motors is an ideal fit to serve as the event’s presenting partner,” said NBA Executive Vice President of Global Marketing Partnerships Mark Tatum. “Since our partnership launched, Kia Motors has dedicated itself to connecting with our passionate fanbase, and presenting the 2011 NBA Draft will provide it with another unique way to highlight its vehicles and create unique experiences for our fans.”

As part of its presence at the NBA Draft, Kia Motors will have two vehicle displays outside the Prudential Center featuring co-branded signage and brand ambassadors, one of which will host an appearance by an NBA legend prior to the event.  Kia will also present a “green screen” photo area on the arena concourse where fans will be able to take a “virtual” photo that will depict them as a draft pick on the official NBA Draft stage.

Kia Motors will receive significant exposure and commercial time during the live NBA Draft telecast on ESPN.  It will also be featured prominently in NBA Draft related programming and content on NBA TV and NBA.com, including  the NBA Draft Preview Show, the NBA Draft Review Post-Show, and select behind-the-scenes segments telecast on NBA TV.

On NBA.com, Kia Motors will present the “Kia NBA Drive to the Draft” feature, which will include the NBA Draft Prospect Index and Profile Pages, a look at approximately 160 draft prospects, and David Aldridge’s Big Board, a comprehensive ranking of draft prospects by position.  The automaker will also present the “Virtual Green Room,” which provides behind-the-scenes footage, draftee video journals, exclusive interviews with draftees, and blogs written by NBA.com editors.

As part of their shared commitment to the community, Kia Motors and the NBA will hold two NBA Cares Community Caravan events surrounding the 2011 NBA Draft.. The events will include a basketball clinic with Special Olympics New York in New York City and a NBA FIT Clinic at the Boys & Girls Club of Newark. The top 15 draft prospects along with NBA Legends will be lead participants through a variety basketball and fitness activities.

Since 2008, the NBA and KMA have collaborated on a number of NBA initiatives that have highlighted the automaker’s line of vehicles to the league’s passionate fan base.    Kia Motors has been the presenting partner of the Kia NBA Performance Awards, which include four of the league’s most prestigious year-end honors – Most Valuable Player Award, Most Improved Player Award, Sixth Man Award, and Defensive Player of the Year, along with the Kia NBA All-Star MVP award and the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month.  Kia Motors is also the title partner of Kia NBA Tip-Off, the comprehensive promotional program that commemorates the start of the NBA season, the Official Automotive Partner of NBA All-Star, and an Official Automotive Partner of NBA Cares.

About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 730 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the “Official Automotive Partner of the NBA.” In 2010, KMA recorded its best-ever U.S. sales and 16th consecutive year of increased U.S. market share. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, safety features and new technologies.

Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.