Kia: Kia Optima production finally kicks off in Georgia

From Ki
U.S. Production of the 2012 Kia Optima Begins at Kia Motor
Manufacturing Georgi

WEST POINT, Ga., Sept. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Following th
completion of a series of expansion projects to raise annua
capacity, the first U.S.-built* 2012 MY Kia Optima midsize seda
rolled off the production line today at Kia Motors Manufacturin
Georgia, Inc. (KMMG), joining the popular Sorento CUV as the secon
Kia vehicle to be produced at the West Point facility. In addition t
the physical expansion, KMMG recently added a third shift that raise
the total number of jobs created at the plant to more than 3,000

"Kia has become one of the fastest growing car companies in th
U.S. thanks in large part to the success of KMMG, the addition of ne
team members, and the critically-acclaimed Optima to the productio
line is further evidence of our commitment to the U.S. and loca
economy," said B.M. Ahn, group president and CEO of Kia Motor
America (KMA) and KMMG. "The attention to detail and dedicatio
to world-class quality shared by each KMMG team member is the primar
reason for Kia Motors' decision to invest an additional $100 millio
to expand the plant's four main shops to support Optim
production.

Representing an investment of more than $1 billion, KMMG bega
producing the Sorento on November 16, 2009. In addition to the job
created directly at the plant, on-site and nearby suppliers hav
created another 7,500 new positions in the region to support KMMG'
annual capacity of 360,000 vehicles in 2012

Kia Motors has undergone a dramatic, design-led transformation, whic
has been delivering dynamically styled vehicles in several importan
segments at exactly the right time, contributing to the brand'
continued gains in U.S. market share. Led by the best-sellin
Sorento, KMA completed an historic first half of 2011 wit
back-to-back best-ever quarterly sales and year-to-date sales hav
increased more than 40 percent over 2010