Optima Production Begins at Kia’s U.S. Plant
The South Korean auto maker’s hot-selling midsize sedan is being built in the U.S. after Kia invests $100 million in its Georgia plant.
September 2, 2011
The first U.S.-built Kia Optima left the line today at the auto maker’s West Point, GA, plant.
Kia invested $100 million in its West Point facility to add an additional 60,000 units of annual capacity to meet demand for the midsize car.
Optima’s previously solely sourced from South Korea.
Optima sales surged 245% in August to 6,157 units, WardsAuto data shows, reflecting the previous-generation Optima’s low results year-ago.
"The attention to detail and dedication to world-class quality shared by each (Kia Motor Mfg. Georgia) team member is the primary reason for Kia Motors' decision to invest an additional $100 million to expand the plant's four main shops to support Optima production,” B.M. Ahn, KMMG’s group vice president and CEO says in a statement.
The Georgia facility opened in November 2009 with annual capacity for 300,000 units and initially built the Kia Sorento cross/utility vehicle.
Last year, KMMG added Hyundai Santa Fe CUV production. The Santa Fe previously had been built at sister brand Hyundai’s Montgomery, AL, plant.
A third shift recently was added at the West Point facility to bring direct employment to 3,000.
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