the Gibbons group of companies setting up Executive Motors, which opened last week.

Executive Motors represents a South Korean manufacturer called Kia, which is partly owned by the Ford Motor Company, of the US, and Mazda, of Japan.

Its principal vehicle on offer in Bermuda is the 1.3 litre three and five-door Kia `Pride' series of passenger cars with a choice of manual or automatic gear changes.

Mr. David Gibbons, managing director of Executive Motors, said: "The car is unique in that is the only one of its engine size in Bermuda that will fall under the class B Government vehicle classification.

"This means that there will be a considerable saving to the motorist in annual registration fees.

"Government classifies passenger vehicles according to their size. The annual registration fee for the Kia car will be less than half of the $730 for the highest classification.'' He added: "You can see from the growth of class A, B and C vehicles that people realise that you can buy smaller cars and still fit the groceries in the back and seat four people comfortably.'' The starting price for the five door Kia is $10,995, said Mr. Gibbons.

The cars come with an AM/FM radio cassette, rear washer wipers, front and back seat belts and brake warning lights. The five door also has a split rear seat.

Also being sold are the Kia `Ceres' series of dump trucks, which fall under the "four wheel drive light category'' of classification, said Mr. Gibbons.