Autoblog

Kia takes Georgia plant offline after supplier fire

Jeff Sabatini — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Safety, Hyundai, Kia

Kia is shutting down the lines at its West Point, GA, factory today, after a fire struck a nearby parts supplier. According to Reuters, the Kia plant will be closed for two days, with production scheduled to resume on Wednesday morning.

Kia builds its Optima sedan and Sorento crossover at the Georgia facility, and it also provides its corporate cousin Hyundai with Santa Fe crossovers. The plant operates three full shifts and has an annual production capacity of over 300,000 vehicles.

The fire broke out at a factory owned by Daehan Solution on Saturday, according to a local TV report, which described the damage as "major," including a partially collapsed roof. Nobody was injured in the blaze, which is suspected to have started when a hot piece of metal was not allowed to cool before being discarded.

While a Kia spokesman told Reuters that the interruption would have a limited impact on sales, due to the plant's inventory, Hyundai officials can't be happy about the down time. Hyundai sales have been capacity constrained for months, as the company's rapid growth in recent years has led to speculation that it will soon be expanding its manufacturing operations in the U.S.

Kia takes Georgia plant offline after supplier fire originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia adding Optima production line to Georgia plant

Chris Shunk — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Kia

2011 Kia Optima EX - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Kia Optima has been a resounding success from the minute the midsize sedan's redesigned 2011 model hit dealer showrooms. Optima sales have nearly doubled since its November introduction, which has helped the automaker claim a 36 percent sales increase on the year.

The Korean automaker seems to think the good times will continue into the future, announcing a third hiring wave at the Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia plant. The additional employees will help increase Optima output when the 2012 model arrives in the third quarter. This is good news for the red-hot Kia brand, and those looking for work in Georgia are likely excited as well. Kia says in the post-jump press release that its hiring spree will increase the workforce at the facility to 3,000 workers. Hit the jump to read over the official release.

Gallery: 2011 Kia Optima EX: Review

Photos copyright (C)2011 Dan Roth / AOL

[Source: Kia]

Continue reading Kia adding Optima production line to Georgia plant

Kia adding Optima production line to Georgia plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia confirms Hyundai Santa Fe to be produced alongside Sorento

Chris Paukert — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Hyundai, Kia

Officially confirming what we've all but known for some time now, Kia announced this morning that its West Point, Georgia plant will add a second vehicle to its production line, the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. The move will also be paired with the addition of a second shift beginning October 1, although limited production of the Santa Fe is earmarked to ramp-up on September 27.

The move hasn't been driven by a need to consolidate as much as it is Hyundai-Kia's need to find capacity to keep up with demand. The Sorento crossover, which is also produced at the plant, is currently Kia's hottest-selling model, and Hyundai needs additional room to build more Sonata sedans at its Alabama facility, so it makes good sense to dual the two, especially as they share a sizable amount of components.

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, which opened just last November, has an annual capacity of some 300,000 units, so there's room to grow.

[Source: Kia]

Kia confirms Hyundai Santa Fe to be produced alongside Sorento originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia looking to assemble vehicles in Georgia

Dan Roth — Tue, 27 May 2008 07:02:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Hyundai, Kia

Since Hyundai/Kia has dropped the idea of a pickup truck, Kia's new assembly plant in West Point, Georgia will instead turn out small cars. The first vehicle that will roll off the assembly lines in 2009 is Kia's Sorento, with body on frame construction well suited to a pickup. What doesn't seem primed for a pickup, however, is a softening market, so Kia has decided to redouble its efforts on small cars.

No details about the upcoming car were discussed, only that we should expect a Spectra-sized C-segment vehicle that may be shared with Hyundai. Hyundai CEO Kim Dong-Jin confessed to the organization losing its way slightly by slacking off on small, high volume cars and going after larger vehicles to bolster the brand images and offerings. A return to its roots will please dealers, and the Genesis Coupe will kick off a turbocharging frenzy at Kia, which will focus on small displacement forced induction engines.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Kia looking to assemble vehicles in Georgia originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 May 2008 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia, Hyundai delay U.S., Czech Republic plants "indefinitely"

Stuart Waterman — Fri, 19 May 2006 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Hyundai, Kia

As the fallout from the Korean government's investigation into Hyundai Motor Co. begins to impact company operations, both Hyundai and subsidiary Kia Motors have postponed construction of new manufacturing facilities in Europe and the U.S.

Kia Motors said Thursday that it was delaying its $1.2 billion Georgia facility indefinitely, and a spokesperson said the company could no longer guarantee that production at its first U.S. plant would begin as scheduled in 2009.

In a separate announcement, Hyundai Motor, which only today signed an agreement with the government of the Czech Republic to build a $1.28 billion factory, said it was delaying the start of construction for the Czech facility.

By most accounts, it would appear that the indictment of Hyundai's chairman, and the pending indictment of his son, the president of Kia, is creating the leadership vacuum feared by analysts. It will be interesting to see how long it takes both marques to get back on track.

[Source: Reuters]

Kia, Hyundai delay U.S., Czech Republic plants "indefinitely" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 May 2006 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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