Kia’s has opened its first-ever U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, capable of producing 300,000 cars annually for the North American and global markets. Representing a US$1 billion investment by Kia, the 2.2 million-square-foot plant sits on more than 2,200 acres of land.
Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia consists of four main shops: stamping, welding, paint and assembly. The site also includes a transmission shop, module shop and a two-mile test track. The general assembly area is outfitted with more than a half mile of height-adjustable conveyors to achieve the most favourable installation position for each team member and reduce physical fatigue. Uniquely, it is outfitted with wood flooring, which provides a more comfortable and forgiving work environment, says Kia.
As an all-new plant, KMMG uses the latest tech available. Stamping press delivers 5,400 tons of pressure and an automatic panel loading system; the fully automated welding shop boasts 242 welding robots; the paint shop uses eco-friendly, water-soluble coatings; and various systems are in place to keep inventory to a minimum via timely parts delivery. KMMG also features a internal railway system to facilitate transportation.
Mass production of the new Kia Sorento began on Nov 16, 2009 with the product officially going on sale in the U.S. in January this year. With 7,398 units sold, the Sorento was Kia’s best-selling vehicle in that month. Despite the global recession, Kia’s car sales in the USA grew by 9.8% to 300,063 units in 2009, and the Korean firm aims to increase sales by 15.6% to 347,000 vehicles in 2010.
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well done KIA…..last time was a small company rebardge car now can produce own brand product…..congrat!!! KIA BOLeH!!!!
yaaa.. please kill overated toyota there!
TQ.
Lets hope that with the increase in sales growth of 9.8% in 09 despite the economy downturn..
KMC keep on coming out with execellent quality product and not COMPROMISE with Quality , Safety and Durability of their product will for
sure be one of the major player globally to compete again their rival..
Cheers,
Lepas nie….. Proton…. :)
can't beat Proton's Tanjung Malim plant with 1mil capacity for malaysia market
Korean carmakers are there thanks to the support of its people…just saying, we can do the same if our people, from the factory worker to the top CEO supports our ventures.
Yeah, agreed with Mysticmind.
Over price toyota and perodua, need to put and end for it.
Toyota = Not 100% Japs, but overpriced.
Perodua = Copycat of daihatsu and toyota, made in Malaysia but priced of an imported car.
When Sorentto is launching here? Naza cannot get stock?
Elite: Proton has 1 million capacity but produce less than 200k… Kia's georgia has 300k capacity but running in full production… So what's the point having a big capacity while running just 20%?? They are simply wasting money…
elite said,
March 11, 2010 @ 11:38 am
can’t beat Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant with 1mil capacity for malaysia market
Elite,
where did you get your fact from? PTMSB current capacity 150K expendable to 250K only
they have a good rating in US, even they dont have manufacture there? did they have manufacture at canada or mexico using NAFTA?
Keeee-yaaah!!!!
GO! GO! GO! Kia!
Stop those overpriced Japanese T and H!
the americans so totally did not see this 15 years ago
They can reach their sales target with the downhill stinky reputation of toyota.
btw, in S.Korea, Kia is has already been bought over by hyundai for quite some time, jus that the kia name is preserved and still roll out cars under the kia badge
If only KIA themselves comes to MY and have the 4s business here then I will buy.
wolfsburg said,
March 11, 2010 @ 12:17 pm
Elite: Proton has 1 million capacity but produce less than 200k… Kia’s georgia has 300k capacity but running in full production… So what’s the point having a big capacity while running just 20%?? They are simply wasting money…
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That's why proton is prep to relocate to Tg Malim to consolidate & optimize the production capacity. With new partnership to be unveiled soon, higher capacity with multi parallel various vehicle production inline…1 Mil annually prod seems possible.
rost said,
March 11, 2010 @ 12:23 pm
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I think ur just mistaken with SA production manufacturing. Tg Malim does able to top at 1Mil annually. U can check it out by urself by googling..
wolfsburg said,
March 11, 2010 @ 12:17 pm
Elite: Proton has 1 million capacity but produce less than 200k… Kia’s georgia has 300k capacity but running in full production… So what’s the point having a big capacity while running just 20%?? They are simply wasting money…
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You're not thinking forwards. Maybe in the near future that capacity can be used, and if it have to be used, isn't it nice to already have the capability, rather than having to spend more money to expand?
Ahmad said,
March 11, 2010 @ 2:53 pm
rost said,
March 11, 2010 @ 12:23 pm
————————————–
I think ur just mistaken with SA production manufacturing. Tg Malim does able to top at 1Mil annually. U can check it out by urself by googling..
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Dont rely to much on google. see for your self, visit the plant. I knew, I have been there. PTMSB is very similar to KMMG except the 2 miles test track. To acheive 1 mil volume Proton need to replicate the current phase 1(RM1.8bill plant that produce up to 250K) 3 times meaning 4 stamping plant, 4 welding plant, 4 painting plant and 4 assembly plant.
Anyway good for Kia. Proton should learn from them
Good news for kia that able to open a plant in US, even having the economy crisis and big impact to automobile..
Bty, i am sure that some1 give comment below must be not ever expose to manufacturing plant, it is the worse case that the plant having capacity but not fully operating!
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You’re not thinking forwards. Maybe in the near future that capacity can be used, and if it have to be used, isn’t it nice to already have the capability, rather than having to spend more money to expand?
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Comparing all the Korean cars, I think Kia has got the best design, much better than it's parent, Hyundai.
KIA has shown it's FANG!
I hope they Koreans will kill Toyota one day, as for it is good that they're giving the Japanese a headache.
always supporting Kia!
i agreed that the after-sales services standard really to pick up.
Good for Kias!! H & T 'kecut telor' nya..kah kah kah :P
This is Hyundai Group's 2nd plant….just in case you think thats the first one they have in USA.
Thier first one is in Alabama and was operational since 2005.
This one is not entirely "new", somewhere along the way, they had to close one of thier plants in Canada, this new KIA plant is simply to replace it when demand picked up.
ammericans likes kia's very much,but not here in malaysia……..LOL
americans….LOL