Kia CEO, Paul Philpott on importance of locality and trust

In this episode of Causonomics, Jo interviews Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK, about his 37-year automotive career and the transformation of Kia from a 1% market share to the UK’s fourth biggest car brand. They discuss Kia’s dealer-focused strategy, the industry-leading seven-year warranty, and the importance of locality and trust in retail.

The conversation also covers how Kia is navigating geopolitical shocks and supply-chain challenges, the transition to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, the role of AI and robotics in manufacturing, competition from Chinese brands, and leadership lessons centred on respect for customers, colleagues and partners.