Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Visits Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia

(West Point, GA.) Aug. 22, 2012 – Since beginning production in 2009, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) has played a key role in Kia becoming the fastest-growing car company in the U.S.[1] and today, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Mong-Koo Chung made an official visit to the brand’s U.S. assembly plant in West Point. In addition to meeting with KMMG leadership, Chairman Chung was joined by U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) for a tour of the state-of-the-art facility which is responsible for the creation of more than 10,500 plant and local supplier jobs.

During the visit Chairman Chung led Sen. Chambliss on a tour of Kia’s $1.1 billion Georgia facility and explained the plant’s commitment to delivering world-class vehicle quality. The tour included a look at KMMG’s recently completed $100 million expansion that increased the plant’s capacity to 360,000 vehicles beginning this year. In addition to discussing KMMG’s tremendous economic impact in Georgia, Chairman Chung also detailed the Kia brand’s record-setting sales momentum and potential for future growth in the U.S. market.

Speaking during his visit today, Chairman Chung said, “Kia Motors has quickly grown to become the seventh largest auto brand in the U.S. and this success is the result of hard work and commitment to quality by all Kia team members and management, as well as a strong and mutually beneficial partnership with the State of Georgia. Kia is on pace to achieve an all-time sales record this year with nearly 50-percent of sales coming from vehicles built at KMMG and I expect this momentum to continue into the future.”

Kia Motors America recently completed its best first half sales performance in company history and has achieved 23 consecutive monthly sales records. Kia’s year-to-date sales in the U.S. are up 15.9 percent over 2011 due in large part to strong retail demand for the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan[2] built at KMMG.
Sen. Chambliss said, “We are so proud that Kia has become an integral part of Georgia’s economy, and a valued and welcome member of the local community. The Kia facility has created jobs and improved the quality of life not just in Troup County, but across the state. We know this is a great place to live and work, and it is wonderful to know that a company of Kia’s caliber agrees.”

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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[1] Based on 5-year cumulative growth between 12-month retail sales for periods ending June 2007 and June 2012of all U.S. automotive brands.
2 The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX Trims and certain LX Trims only) and GDI Turbo are built in the United States from U.S. and globally sources parts.