| In an announcement made on March 2006, Kia Motors | | | | further grow sales in the North American market." |
| Corporation, the maker of Kia cars, announced official | | | | He added, "The plant is an important development to |
| plans to build a $1.2 billion assembly and manufacturing | | | | support our sales goals over the next decade." |
| plant in the United States. The location has been | | | | A dedicated Kia cars corporate campus is currently |
| confirmed as West Point, Georgia and will serve as | | | | under construction in Irvine, California. With an |
| Kia's first manufacturing plant in America. The first | | | | anticipated opening date of December 2006, this new |
| Kia cars to roll off of the assembly line are said to | | | | facility will feature a 65,000 square-foot design |
| begin production in 2009. | | | | center. Over the past four years, Kia Motors has |
| When operated at it's maximum capacity, the new Kia | | | | invested over $300 million in America. Among the |
| cars facility is expected to create approximately | | | | results are a state-of-the-art research and |
| 300,000 brand new automobiles every year. In | | | | development center located in Michigan, along with a |
| addition, this new construction will provide an additional | | | | custom-built vehicle facility in California. |
| 2,500 jobs and will be situated on 2,200 acres. | | | | Since debuting in the American market, Kia cars has |
| According to president and CEO of Kia Motors | | | | expanded to a complete product line of vehicles and |
| America J.H. Lee, "The decision by Kia Motors | | | | have watched their company thrive during the 12 |
| Corporation to build a manufacturing plant in the United | | | | years of consecutive sales records, which continue to |
| States demonstrates their confidence in our ability to | | | | this day. |