The all new 2011 Kia Sorento will be the first vehicle built at the $1 billion manufacturing plant which is a state of the art facility capable of producing 300,000 vehicles annually and is projected to create 2,500 direct jobs and 7,500 additional jobs locally.
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The view from the Summit
At Summit Place Kia in metro Detroit we are pleased to announce that Kia Motors America and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia have officially begun production on the 2011 Kia Sorento. This marks an important milestone in Kia history, as the new assembly plant, located in West Point, Georgia, is the first to assemble Kias in North America.
Here is the press release from Kia:
(Seoul) November 17, 2009 – 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.
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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.
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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 All-new 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.
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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.
Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) is the first manufacturing site in North America for Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, Korea. KMMG is located on 2,200 acres in West Point, Georgia. At full capacity, the plant will have the ability to produce 300,000 vehicles annually and employ approximately 2,500 team members.
Contributing to the American economy
At Summit Place Kia, we are proud of the fact that Kia Motors and Summit Place Kia do their part in contributing to the American economy. To schedule a test drive, or for more information on our entire line-up of high quality, affordable Kias, you can contact us at our Waterford store by calling 248-682-6002 or by dialing 734-397-9900 for our Canton store. You can also check us out on the web at www.summitplacekia.com. Better yet, stop by one of our two dealerships located at 2200 Elizabeth Lake Road in Waterford, just behind the Summit Place mall or in Canton at 41840 Michigan Avenue, just west of I-275 and see why everyone at metro Detroit’s sales leader and Proud Automotive Sponsor of Michigan Athletics would “Love to see ‘ya” in a Summit Place Kia!
