Findlay master technician Astra Roy has seen Kia prosper

If ever there has been anyone who has witnessed the dramatic climb of the Kia brand of automobiles, it would have to be Southern Nevada native Astra Roy of Findlay Kia.

Roy has worked on Kia automobiles since the brand was first introduced into the Southern Nevada automobile market in August 1994.

"I have owned many Kias since the start," said the soft-spoken Roy, a 1981 graduate of Basic High School. "I have passed them on to my kids and they have run them into the ground."

However, it has been the resurgence of Kia in the past few years that has taken the market by storm. In fact, the Kia has become one of the hottest-selling cars in the country.

"Kia has made leaps and bounds since 2001. The company listened to the customers and responded positively. I have actually seen Kia stop the production of a particular model to make certain that a specific problem is solved before letting it go too far," he said.

Roy, a Kia master technician, said development of the 2006 Optima signaled the rally of the Korean automobiles.

"The car was dependable right off the bat," Roy said. "Even in Las Vegas where you run the air conditioning nonstop in the summertime, the car has been very dependable. Also, the 2006-and-later Rio has been a very good vehicle. There is no question that in the past five years, Kia has done its homework and met the demands of its customers."

During his time off, Roy participates in radio-control aeronautics, flying a Trex 450 SE helicopter along with various airplanes.

"There is a road by our house that doesn't have any traffic, so I go out with some of my buddies to fly," he said. "I was an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force for 13 years and aviation is attractive to me. To take a helicopter and build it piece by piece is relaxing. It's something I can relate to from my years in the Air Force."

In addition, Roy and his wife, Cheryl, are foster parents, so they spend significant time helping young people.

"We raised five kids between us," he said. "We went through the foster parent program. There are a lot of kids who need help nowadays and we're proud to be offering a helping hand."

Findlay Kia Fixed Operations Director Bob Williams, who has been around the automobile repair business for more than four decades, praised Roy.

"He's definitely dedicated and knowledgeable," said Williams, who has been with Findlay Automotive Group for 35 years. "He is thorough and he knows how the components work. He knows more than just diagnosing a vehicle and he can fix what may be wrong. Astra is a very mellow guy and our customers can count on him when needed."

Findlay Kia, at 5325 W. Sahara Ave., is headed by General Manager Byron Klemaske. The dealership is part of the Findlay Automotive Group, which was founded in 1961 by the late Pete Findlay, whose son, Cliff Findlay, now spearheads new and used car operations in Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Idaho.

Further information can be found by visiting www.findlayauto.com.