Kia EVs will join the production line at the new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant, construction for which officially began earlier this week.
Kia has held a significant presence in the state of Georgia, US, since 2006 when it invested heavily in a new manufacturing plant in West Point, at which the Telluride, Sorento and Sportage SUVs and K5 sedans continue to be manufactured. Kia claims as many as 3.8 million examples have rolled off the production line since 2009, with more than 90 per cent of those heading to US dealerships thereafter.
Now, Kia has confirmed that select models of its EV range will also be manufactured at Hyundai’s first US plant when production begins in early 2025. Batteries and EV components will be provided by “a stable supply chain” the Group is looking to establish in the US.
“Kia was the first to open an auto assembly plant in Georgia, and our plan to produce EVs in the US builds on the success and growth we have forged together and reinforces our commitment to becoming a sustainable mobility solutions provider,” Kia North America president and CEO Sean Yoon explains. “Together with our suppliers, Kia Georgia has helped create more than 14,000 jobs and we look forward to bringing new opportunities to the state we proudly call home.”
Though unconfirmed, the recently announced EV9 SUV, set to arrive in 2024, will be among Kia’s most likely models to be produced at HMGMA from 2025 onwards. While the newly-launched EV6 is currently built at Kia’s Hwasung plant in South Korea, it’s possible that production of the electric crossover will also be moved to the new US plant in due course. Like Hyundai, Kia will be keen for its EV customers to benefit from US tax credits, something that’s currently only applicable for models completed in the US.
