2012 Kia Optima release date set for third quarter of 2011. Kia Optima production moving to Georgia, USA!
Kia Motors America has officially announced it plans to transfer production of its 2012 Optima mid-size sedan to the USA. Starting later this fall, the all-new 2012 Kia Optima will be produced at the carmaker’s manufacturing plant in West Pont, Georgia which currently produces Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe crossover vehicles.
“The success of the West Point, Georgia plant and the high-quality Sorento CUV built there underscores the attention to detail and commitment to quality and craftsmanship exhibited by each KMMG team member and is the primary reason for Kia’s decision to add Optima to the plant’s production line,” told Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO, Kia Motors America.
The 2012 Kia Optima will be built alongside the brisk-selling Sorento crossover, which has been the most popular Kia vehicle in the US-market last year. With sales of more than 123.500 units in 2010, the US-produced Sorento crossover represented 30 percent of Kia Motors America’s total sales.
The move of the 2012 Optima production from South Korea to the USA will further increase the number of people working at Kia’s U.S. production plant. The automaker is currently accepting applications for a third wave of hiring to support the increased production. The total number of team members at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia is expected to reach nearly 3.000 by the year’s end.
April 23rd, 2011 at 4:17 pm
I love the fact that the Optima will be built in Georgia, however, If the build 120,000 Sorentos and lets say 120,000 Sante fe’s what are the only going to build 60,000 Optimas and be at max capacity? I know here in Canada we have 2000 Sorentos stock mation wide and 8,000 on back order. The only way they can fix this is by getting the Sante Fe out of there.
April 23rd, 2011 at 6:28 pm
I’m for the Optima and agasint the Optima being built in the states. I’m for it because of the fact it’s being built in the states and can improve demand. I’m agasint it because for some stupid reason it’s cheaper to have Kias shipped from a boat from Seoul to reach the states than to have it built in the US. Last I checked cars exported by boat or plane cost way more than inported on 18 wheeler trucks.
April 24th, 2011 at 2:04 am
Yeah, they need to move Accent/Rio production to Georgia too for lower costs, and no tariffs.
That US Accent compared to the Rio is RIDICULOUS!!!
April 25th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Both Kia and Hyundai should both build a Mega Plant somewhere in either Mexico or Canada and build both the Rio and Accent there. Because of NAFTA and cheaper shipping by rail, they could either reduce MSRP or add more vehicle content. MIght even have a few pennies left over to paint over those beautiful Black Accent exterior door handles and mirrors and put some grown up tires and wheels on the base model Accent.
June 4th, 2011 at 2:39 am
“Both Kia and Hyundai should both build a Mega Plant somewhere in either Mexico or Canada and build both the Rio and Accent there.”
THANKS PHILIP….Let’s put MORE Mexicans and Candaians to work and leave the unemployed US workers keep on suffering and living on unemployment..I can tell your a TRUE AMERICAN…
Maybe your job can be shipped to Mexico or Canada or even CHINA..,and you can see how it really feels to have your job taken away.
I would love to see Hyundai/Kia build another plant in the US…Maybe in the South …as I am from Alabama…I Thank all the companies that have built new factory’s here in the south…the Northern states for YEARS and YEARS have enjoyed earning good wages and benefits and it was TIME for the SOUTH to RISE AGAIN and be productive…and we will CONTINUE to be a better place to do business in the long haul..
July 23rd, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Chris,
If the south wasn’t full of so many lazy and unproductive workers, than maybe more major corporations would come down here. But they know better. Northern and western states have much more productive work force. So long as the south continues to be lazy, there will be little to no growth in the southern states. I’ve lived in south Carolina and Georgia for 20+ years, so I know
August 3rd, 2011 at 5:31 pm
That puts me out of the market! I was going to replace my 07 Optima with a 2012 but not now. US production cost will reduce the quality of the interior components and materials as in the Sonata. Maybe I’ll wait 6 more months and get a Genesis …Not A Good Move. IMO
December 16th, 2011 at 9:43 pm
Just purchased a 2012 Optima SX. Looks great, materials & build quality. Glad to see it’s made here in the states. Easily competes w/ Accord, Altima, Camry and any GM, Ford or Chrysler product in similar class.