SEOUL, South Korea-Kia Motors Corp. has begun construction on its first-ever U.S. manufacturing facility, in West Point, GA. The $1 billion automotive assembly plant is central to Kia's long-term plans to increase North American sales to around 650,000 vehicles by 2010.
The new Georgia facility is scheduled to begin production in 2009, with an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles. It will employ approximately 2,500. An additional 10 suppliers are expected to locate in the vicinity.