When you think about car companies, the environment, and being socially responsible are not words that come to mind. This is not the case with Kia motors. Kia has started their “Drive Change” campaign “It’s about thinking big, no matter how small you start. It’s what took Kia from their first bicycle in 1952 to their first car in 1971. And it is why Kia obsess over every stitch, rivet and feature seen in the vehicles they make today. It’s about innovating. It’s hugging trees as well as hugging corners and enjoying more fulfillment and fewer fill-ups. Drive Change is about changing things for the better. Because when we change, we make the world around us better too.” 

The Drive and Change philosophy:  “Drive. It’s the urge to push on. A force that makes us think big. No matter how small we start. It’s our inner fight. The desire to do what’s right. We don’t know where drive comes from. But it’s in us all. Change. It’s a new perspective. An innovation. It can be big. It can be small. It can be living. Or not at all. Change makes us better. And it’s all around us. Drive and Change. Two words that mean even more when we put them together.”

Basically, Kia is challenging people to go out into their communities and make a difference. From their website drivechangewithkia.ca you can join a pre-existing event in your area, post an event, or just share a story about something you did to enact change. Kia is trying to epitomize the idea of doing good to a social forum, to get people together and thinking about how to better the communities where they live. The company understands that sometimes you need funds to be able to enact the change you want. That is why they are hosting a contest called “Drive Change with $25,000. Tell them what your community needs. Nominate a project. You could win funds to Drive Change in your community. Drive Change Day is August 21, 2011. Tell your friends. Join an event. Share an act of change. Together we can make our world better.”

Many companies try to get customers to get involved in their areas however Kia is putting their money where their mouth is. That makes a difference. In an age where car companies are often seen as the cause of environmental problems it’s refreshing to see a company trying to give back. Plus, good publicity is something that any company craves – especially in the auto-industry.