Kia Moves Up Job One at New Georgia Plant

ATLANTA – Kia Motors America is accelerating Job One at its new West Point, GA, plant, a spokesman says during a Sorento media event here.

"The training came together earlier," Alex Fedorak explains.

Fedorak also says the auto maker won’t announce until next September a second model to be built at its new West Point, GA, plant.

Kia’s first U.S. manufacturing facility will begin building the '11 Sorento cross/utility vehicle in mid-November, ahead of the previously stated early-December production start.

Pre-production units of the Sorento are being manufactured now, with the CUV scheduled to go on sale in the first week of January.

The new Sorento’s starting price will be less than $20,000 and offer Kia's 2.4L 4-cyl. Theta engine that makes 172 hp, as well as a 3.5L V-6.

The CUV also will be available with Hyundai Motor Group’s 6-speed automatic transmission, making Hyundai/Kia one of only three major auto makers to develop and build its own advanced automatic.

U.S.-built '11 Sorento CUV to go on sale in January.

Fedorak says South Korean parent Kia Motor Corp. has discussed producing a variety of other models at the West Point plant.

Officials previously have said a small, fuel-efficient car likely would be the next vehicle to be made at West Point, but Fedorak says he is unsure if that will be the case.

He also declines to say whether Kia will manufacture a Hyundai model in Georgia, as some media reports have suggested.

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