Officially official: Production of the all-new Kia Sorento begins today…
The first U.S.-built Kia vehicle, a white all-new Sorento, rolled off the production line today at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), officially opening the first U.S. Kia Motors plant. KMMG is expected to produce 300,000 vehicles at full capacity and employ 2,500 people, with on-site and nearby suppliers creating 7,500 additional jobs in the region.
“The start of production for our first manufacturing facility in the United States further demonstrates our commitment to growth in North America and we are proud to be adding 2,500 jobs to the local economy,” said B.M. Ahn, President and CEO, Kia Motors America (KMA) and KMMG.
Representing an investment of US$1 billion by Kia Motors, KMMG will establish new benchmarks for vehicle quality and productivity by utilizing some of the world’s most advanced manufacturing techniques. KMMG’s general assembly area is outfitted with more than a half mile (0.8 km) of height-adjustable conveyors to achieve the most favorable installation position for each team member and reduce physical fatigue. Also in general assembly, KMMG is the only plant in North America outfitted with wood flooring, which provides a more comfortable and forgiving work environment for team members.
Built on 2,200 acres (8.9 km2), the complex includes a body stamping facility, a transmission shop where the All-new Sorento’s six-speed automatic transmission is produced, and a two mile (3.2 km) test track in addition to the main assembly plant. The plant’s 186-foot-long (57 m) stamping press delivers 5,400 tons of pressure to stamp steel into 17 different types of vehicle panels for the 2010 Sorento, operating at a speed of seven to 15 strokes per minute. The massive stamping equipment spans from almost 20 feet (6 m) below the floor to 39.4 feet (12 m) high.
KMMG continues Kia Motors’ aggressive investment in the U.S. market. Since 2002, more than US$1.3 billion has been invested in various facilities throughout the country, including a dedicated corporate campus and design center in Irvine, Calif., a state-of-the-art research and development center in Ann Arbor, Mich. and custom-built vehicle proving grounds in Mojave, Calif.
Since coming to market in the United States, Kia Motors, through its US-based marketing and distribution arm, KMA, has expanded to a full product line of vehicles and enjoyed 14 years of consecutive market share increases, including a 50 percent increase through October 2009. Most recently, KMA posted its best sales quarter in company history and is one of only three automakers whose sales are up over their 2008 U.S. sales pace. [Source: Kia]
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November 17th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
$1,300,000,000 is a lot of money Kia has invested. Maybe the 2011 Sorento will get the highest quality award from JD Power. That would change brand perception, and it would shut Toyota up.
November 17th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Instead of the flowers they should have had the Sorento breakthrough a long red ribbon.
November 17th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Hyundai/Kia should stop build overseas factories.
Even Toyota stop it.
Look at NUMMI. It is very hard to withdraw.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
toyota sell less car and lost money , HKA sell more cars and make money!
November 18th, 2009 at 12:56 am
Looking forward to it. Probably my next new vehicle
November 20th, 2009 at 4:36 am
Just saw on the Chosun site that late next year, the plant will start making the next Optima and also the Santa Fe will join the Sorento on the line to make room in Montgomery for them to start making Elantras.
November 27th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
We received one of these 2011 Sorentos recently. It doesn’t have a window sticker, so I think it’s for the showroom only, though it did have the PDI plastic on the inside and outside. I didn’t get a chance to check the engine or equipment, though I did see the VIN plate. It started with a 5, the first Kia I’ve ever seen built here in the USA!
November 30th, 2009 at 7:55 am
Yeah 1 is USA, 2 is Canada, 3 and 4? is Mexico, 5 is USA, J Japan, K Korea, etc. Oh, and another thing. The Rondo and the Sorento have the EXACT same wheelbase. Why not put a Rondo body on a Sorento frame? It would FINALLY have AWD.
January 1st, 2010 at 5:26 pm
My 2004 Sorento is rusting from the inside out,inside the engine hood where it is held up by the struts is completely gone ?? I also own another car that is 14 yrs. old , not a drop of rust.Kia said it is not under warranty so to bad, I saved and saved to buy my first NEW auto ever out of about 12 autos I have owned in my life, this has been the WORST investment ever. It is a 2004 with 56,000 miles on it have done all the required maintenance as they have scheduled it at the dealership, I thought it was 10 yrs. or 100,000 miles, what crap they will not stand behind there product and that it is just rusting from the inside out I guess is MY problem.From the outside there is not a spot on it , have it detailed twice a year , garaged, I wanted it to last , but the hood is going to fall off, Am I the onle one out there with bad metal ???
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:03 am
Isnt Sportage and Optima dropping at Detroit?
January 2nd, 2010 at 4:44 am
Cadenza is Detroit, Sportage is Chicago and Optima is New York.
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:52 am
Lmao@Cadenza. Now why didnt they think of that years ago.
January 2nd, 2010 at 6:22 am
I want UB spy shots!! Oh, and Kia is going to continue production of the HM for most parts of the world. The eight passenger GM Lambda competitor that will replace the Borrego in the USA has the codename YP.
January 2nd, 2010 at 6:51 pm
The Borrego is being replaced? I think Hyundai should gve you guys some more SUVs. Hyundai should only be Tuscon, Santa Fe, and Genesis Truck. Accent and Elantra should have small crossovers. KIA should be about reliabilty, performance, trucks, and being as low cost as possible.
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KIA is the thoroughbread truck maker here.
January 2nd, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Yeah, if you haven’t noticed, Kia hasn’t imported a Borrego since the beginning of September. There is no 2010 Borrego in the States.