Kia to Build a U.S. Plant in Georgia
Kia Motors Corp., South Korea’s second-largest automaker, said it would build its first U.S. vehicle assembly plant in West Point, Ga., choosing a site not far from a plant owned by parent Hyundai Motor Co. to tap growing sales in North America.
Kia Chief Executive Chung Eui-sun and Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue signed an agreement Sunday in Seoul to build the facility on the border with Alabama, with production scheduled to begin in 2009, Kia said.
“Kia has entered an aggressive growth phase in the U.S.,” Chung said.
Kia said its Georgia factory would be designed to produce as many as 300,000 vehicles a year, creating 2,500 local jobs. As many as six suppliers would set up operations in the surrounding area in Troup County, resulting in an additional 2,000 jobs, Seoul-based Kia said.
The carmaker picked Georgia over Mississippi, Kentucky and Tennessee. Hyundai Motor’s factory in Montgomery, Ala., began production in May of last year.
Kia said it expected its combined sales in North America to climb 15% to 350,000 units in 2006 and to reach 800,000 units by 2010.
Inside the business of entertainment
The Wide Shot brings you news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
