New U.S. Kia Plant to Build Hyundai CUV
By Bill Visnic August 31, 2010Kia Motors America today announced it will begin production of the Hyundai Santa Fe crossover at the Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia assembly plant in West Point, Georgia, beginning in late September.
It had long been speculated the Kia plant might initiate production of Hyundai vehicles; Hyundai Motor Co. owns 36 percent of Kia and the two closely affiliated companies share many components, parts and associated suppliers.
The new Kia plant, which produces the Sorento crossover, will start full production of the Hyundai Santa Fe on October 1, according to a company release, adding a second shift to the plant that has capacity of 300,000 units. The KMMG site - Kia Motors Corp.'s first in North America - came on stream with Sorento production last November, and through July the company sold 59,024 Sorentos in the U.S.
"KMMG has produced 100,000 Sorentos to date and the quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into building the Sorento from the entire KMMG team has helped make it the best-selling Kia in the United States," said Byund Mo Ahn, group president and CEO KMA and KMMG.
"Building on the Sorento's initial success, this new edition to the production line expands KMMG's volume and increases our commitment to the U.S. and local economy," he added.
In addition to the Sorento, a barrage of acclaimed new models from Kia, such as the Soul hatchback and Forte compact car, have helped it join Hyundai in markedly increasing sales and market share in the U.S. even as the broad auto sales climate has sputtered.
Santa Fe photo by Hyundai
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