Climate controlled seat specialist Amerigon said its heated and ventilated front seats will be optional in the new 2011 Kia Optima sold in China.

The seats are already available in the Optima sold in North America and in China in Kia’s Sportage.

“Kia is a valued customer and its offering of our seat system in the new Optima being sold in China underscores an important expansion of our relationship,” Amerigon president and CEO Daniel Coker said. “Amerigon is working very hard to expand its presence in China.”

Kia vehicles use Amerigon’s proprietary Climate Control Seat system which delivers active, individually controlled heated or cooled air to occupants.