Strong demand for vehicles built at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia leads to additional hiring for on-site supplier

West Point, Ga., July 3, 2012 – Together with local suppliers, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 jobs in West Point and surrounding areas.  Today, the plant’s economic impact in the region was extended when Powertech America, the on-site transmission supplier for KMMG, announced plans to add 143 new positions and a third shift at its West Point facility.

KMMG, which added a third shift in 2011 as part of a $100 million expansion, has been a major contributor to the fast-growing automotive brand’s string of 21 consecutive monthly sales records by producing the award-winning and top-selling Kia Sorento CUV and Kia Optima mid-size sedan. To support overwhelming demand, KMMG’s supplier network has increased output and created jobs in the region. To date, on-site and local suppliers have created or announced nearly 8,000 jobs to go along with the more than 3,000 jobs created directly at KMMG.

“The success of KMMG has led to tremendous growth at the plant and with our suppliers who continue to expand with us,” said Byung Mo Ahn, the Group President and CEO for Kia Motors America and KMMG. “We are so proud of the work of our team members and the team members at our suppliers who have contributed to our continued success in this region.”

Powertech held job fairs beginning the week of June 11 with the launch of the separate third shift taking place by January. This latest expansion will increase total employment at Powertech to 454 team members.

About Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia

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, and began mass production on Nov. 16, 2009. KMMG is home to the 2013 Sorento CUV and the 2012 Optima mid-size sedan, two of the brand’s top selling models. Beginning in 2012, the plant has the ability to build 360,000 vehicles annually from U.S. and globally-sourced parts.

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