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KIA Motors Manufacturing GA completes $100 Million expansion

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From KMMG

WEST POINT, GA - Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) announced the completion of a $100 million expansion that has increased the annual production capacity of the plant from 300,000 vehicles annually to more than 360,000.

"Our more than 3,000 team members continue to demonstrate outstanding dedication to building world-class, high-quality vehicles at our West Point manufacturing facility," said Mr. Byung Mo Ahn, Group President and CEO for Kia Motors America (KMA) and KMMG. "The new jobs and increased volume at KMMG is continued evidence of our commitment to the U.S. and local economies. Kia experienced record-breaking growth again in 2011, led by the best-selling Sorento and the critically-acclaimed Optima, both of which are being built at KMMG."

The new $100 million investment by Kia Motors is in addition to the $1 billion already invested into KMMG. The expansion includes:

  • A second 5,400-ton transfer press in the stamping shop
  • Additional robots in the welding shop related to the production of the Optima
  • Expansion of the paint shop to accommodate additional capacity
  • Expansion of the production line in the general assembly shop (within the existing facilities) and installation of new equipment
  • Expansion of the railroad spur to efficiently handle additional volume
  • More than 500 additional parking spaces added to the team member parking area
  • Over 1,000 new team members were hired at KMMG during 2011 to bring the total number of hires at the plant to more than 3,000

About Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) is the first manufacturing site in North America for Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, Korea. KMMG is located on 2,200 acres in West Point, Georgia, and began mass production of the 2011 Kia Sorento on Nov. 16, 2009. Beginning in 2012, the plant will have the ability to build 360,000 vehicles annually from U.S. and globally-sourced parts.