Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc

Our Company

On March 13, 2006, KIA Motors America (KMA), KIA's sales and marketing company in U.S.A , and the State of Georgia executed the Site Acquisition and Development Agreement, which announced plans to construct a $1 billion automotive assembly and manufacturing plant on 2,259 acres of land in West Point, Ga., the first plant for Kia in North America.

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) was officially incorporated on Oct. 10, 2006 and 10 days later the groundbreaking for the facility was held on Oct. 20.

"We take pride in how far we've come, creating a foothold in the American market, including our first U.S. manufacturing plant -- Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia -- currently under construction in West Point, Georgia," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of Kia Motors America and KMMG. "The state-of-the-art plant will begin producing new Kia vehicles in fall 2009, and at full capacity it will have the capability to manufacture 300,000 vehicles annually. This project is the largest in history for the State of Georgia and is already having a positive impact on the economy. When the plant goes online KMMG will have created 2,500 jobs for which we have already received more than 43,000 applications; additionally, as many as another 6,000 jobs will be created by various plant suppliers."

The 43,000+ applications were received in just 30 days, a number that set new automotive benchmarks for both the quantity of applicants during the allotted timeframe and because they were all received online.

"The numbers are truly remarkable," says Randy Jackson, director of human resources and administration for KMMG. "These applicants are educated and experienced, truly demonstrating the quality of Georgia's workforce. Georgia and its neighboring states have a prepared, educated and experienced workforce ready to build the future."

Currently, KMMG is in the process of hiring salaried and operating team members who will be building Kia's next generation Sorento. Kia is searching for team members who will help reinforce its commitment to sell innovative, high-quality vehicles at affordable prices when production begins in November of 2009.

Construction at the plant is expected to be finished early in 2009. Test vehicles are scheduled to begin production in March of that same year. During the testing phase, vehicles will be examined for quality prior to mass production later in the year.

Kia enters full-size SUV segment with all-new 2009 Borrego

The 2009 Borrego is offered in LX, EX and Limited trims. Two- and four-wheel drive systems are available, and both can be had with either V6 or V8 power. Prices range from $26,995 for the LX V6, 4x2, to $33,745 for the EX V8 4x4.

Borrego has a function-first, no-nonsense look about it, befitting a big SUV. The upright lines are beveled at the corners and capped with a wide, chrome grille. Size-wise, Borrego stretches 192.3 inches long. It is both longer and wider than class contemporaries like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chevy TrailBlazer or Toyota 4Runner.

One disadvantage that Kia faces in coming to market now is that they run into a different set of expectations. Years ago, SUVs were more truck-like on the inside. But, in the boom years for big SUVs, buyers became conditioned to expect more, and the interiors on some higher-end SUVs started to rival luxury cars in terms of content and refinement.

The bar that Borrego has to vault has therefore been raised by the competition. Kia's response is a strong one. All trim levels have standard three-row seating. Up front, the driver takes in a clean, legible layout of gauges, framed by a meaty, four-spoke steering wheel. Controls in the main aren't hard to figure out or operate.

Interiors are predominantly plastic, so the trick for the designer becomes breaking things up with different colors and textures and Borrego does pretty well with this.

Visibility is generally good in all directions. Inboard storage includes molded door pockets; glove box; a main, covered, center console bin; and small trays and cubbyholes. Big items go in the way-back, where Borrego offers an either/or choice for storage typical of three-seat SUVs.

When all rows are full of passengers, there's not much room left over for gear (12.4 cubic feet). However, both the second and third row seats fold nearly flat forward when not required for passengers, and so stowed, they expand cargo capacity to as much as 97.6 cubic feet.

The back row is comfortable for kids and can even hold an adult or two for the short run. Row two is suitable for any size, and the available rear seat entertainment package ($1,500 on EX level) will keep the troops occupied on trips.

Both engine choices offer more power than any previous Kia product. The 3.8-liter V6 produces a class-competitive 276 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The V8 packs 337 horsepower and 323 pound-feet under hood. The V6 is linked to a five-speed automatic transmission, while the V8 gets a six-speed auto.

EPA rates the six at 17 miles per gallon city, 21 highway (4x2), 16/21 mpg (4x4). With the V8, you can expect 15/22 mpg (4x2) and 15/20 mpg (4x4). Towing capability reaches 5,000 pounds with the V6, while V8 models are rated at 7,500 pounds. The available 4WD system is a full-time, on-demand setup.

Integrated onboard electronics (ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control) work in concert to help the driver maintain control. While not aimed at rock climbers, Borrego is certainly capable of light off-roading. Undercarriage skid plates are standard equipment. So are Hill Start Assist Control and Downhill Brake Control. The former prevents rollback when starting up a steep incline, while the latter helps maintain a controlled, steady pace on steep downhill grades.

Borrego is a solid SUV, worthy of careful consideration. Its biggest challenge isn't matching up with its competition as much as it is dealing with demands of selling in a rough, big truck market.

© Motor Matters, 2008
Dan Lyons

Tribune Review: 2008 Kia Amanti

What it is: The Amanti is Kia's flagship sedan which is aimed at the buyer who wants a luxury ride without the luxury price tag. An all-new model was released in 2007, and the 2008 model is identical. Kia has tried their hardest to gain credibility in the minds of America, and they are backing it with a 10-year, 100,000 mile warranty on all of their vehicles. With styling cues borrowed heavily from Mercedez Benz, from the front it could easily be mistaken for an E-class. My model was equipped with several additional features including Electronic Stability Package ($500 and should be standard), Leather Package ($2,500), Premium package ($1,600) and power sunroof ($900). The options provide moderate value and I feel that they could all be priced 10-20 percent lower for what you are getting.

Upsides: The 3.8L V6 provides 264hp which provides plenty of spirited acceleration. The car is extremely quiet and provides a wonderfully smooth drive on the freeway. Interior room is plentiful and the Amanti provides tons of storage in the trunk.

Downsides: No navigation available, and the upgraded Infinity sounds system (only packaged with the Leather-seating group) is nothing special. They sacrificed handling for a comfier ride quality, and they may have gone a little over the line. If you like a sporty ride, then this probably isn't the car for you. The 264 horses come at a price as the car is rated at 17mpg city and 24mpg highway. There is no in port even with the upgraded stereo. It befuddles me when car manufacturers continue to leave this feature out.

Cost: Base price is $25,495. As tested (fully loaded) is $30,995.

Final word: The Amanti shines the most when you are in the passenger seat. You get to enjoy the smooth ride without having to pay for the gas or have your friends raise their eyebrows at you purchasing a $30,000 Kia. Kia has come a long way, and the Amanti is proof they have made great strides in the car segment. Versus a Honda or Toyota this car really shines but when comparing to a Mercedes or BMW it can't yet compete.

Wilson Calvert
© 2008 Ourtribune.com

Kia Goes Tow to Tow

The new leader in towing capacity in the mid-size SUV segment surprisingly doesn't wear a badge from Detroit or Japan. With a whopping 7,500 pound tow rating, the new Kia Borrego is a shot across the bows of other vehicles in this segment, once defined by the Ford Explorer. And although Kia is entering this segment at a time of reduced demand, the Borrego offers best-in-class fuel economy, on top of significant towing ability, reason enough for us to take a look.

In a first for the South Korean automaker, the Borrego is offered with a V8 engine, which puts out a class-leading 337 horsepower, about 45 more than a Ford Explorer. Mating this power plant to a six-speed automatic yields EPA-estimated fuel economy of 15 mpg city, 22 mpg highway for the 2WD version and 15/20 for the 4WD.

On our test drive through the plains and mountains of Colorado, our V8, 4WD version of the Borrego ran 283 miles on just over 13 gallons of gasoline, averaging better than 21 mpg. The six-speed transmission shifts seamlessly while accelerating, and while cruising the flat and wide open highways near Denver, the Borrego hummed along at 75 mpg at just 2,00 rpm, thanks to that sixth gear. However, it does take a firm push on the gas to get the Borrego to downshift when climbing those big hills to the west, which probably also helps keep the fuel economy high.

The ride is firm, as you would expect from a body-on-frame constructed vehicle. Kia took pains to build a lighter, stiffer vehicle using a hydraulic forming process to build the frame. It has paid off on the fuel economy side of the equation.

Inside the Borrego offers seating for seven passengers with a fold-down, third row of seats in the far back. Our test model held four adults comfortably. As with the third-row seating options in many SUVs and crossovers, the distance from the seat to the floor boards is limited to the thickness of the seat itself--these are best reserved for kids or people with lots of cartilage left in their knees.

With the third row up, the cargo volume is 12.4 cubic feet, but with both the third and second row folded down, it expands to 97.6 cubic feet.

Kia offers the full range of electronics and luxury items buyers have come to expect in their SUVs, including in-dash navigation system with integrated controls for everything from the satellite radio to your iPod. The touch-screen navigation system became easy to use with just a little practice. Entering specific addresses or searching for points of interest is best done before you set off unless you have a passenger.

We did find some quirks in the navigation system. For example, while it easily found our tiny little motel complex on the outskirts of Rocky Mountain National Park through the points of interest search, we couldn't find the listing for Denver International Airport in the same fashion. Only after navigating to the airport by selecting it as a waypoint visually using the map screen did we discover that the airport had been listed in the GPS's database, but under its official name, Jeppesen Terminal.

In addition to the touch screen system, the Borrego features a backup safety sensor that uses ultrasonic sensors to detect objects behind you that you can't see. A warning beep tells you when you get too close. The side mirrors also tilt down automatically when you shift into reverse, giving you a better view of the ground to the rear of the vehicle so you won't back into curbs.

The Borrego includes a litany of standard safety equipment such as front, side, three-row curtain and driver's knee airbags (V8 only) and an extensive alphabet soup list of traction, braking, stability and other control systems. While we thankfully did not need the stability system or ABS, we did play with the Downhill Brake Control (DBC) coming down the mountains on I-70 West. Keeping a steady speed rolling down those steep grades was simple with the Borrego's automatic transmission in manual mode. Simply selecting second or third gear kept the speed in check. On really steep grades in second gear, the DBC would kick in for additional braking power.

Overall, we found the Borrego a worthwhile addition to the short list of vehicles capable of pulling 7,500 pounds while carrying seven people.

Michael Vatalaro
Boat U.S. Magazine

Kia Motors America and AutoTrader.com Partner tp Showcase New Vehicle Classifieds

New Vehicle Dealer Inventory Available on Largest Online Classified Automotive Web Site

# Partnership expected to assist in increased vehicle and dealer inquiries by consumers
# Information on all new Kia vehicles will be easily accessible

IRVINE, Calif., October 22, 2008 - Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced it is teaming up with AutoTrader.com, the nation's leading online classified automotive Web site, to add Kia dealers' new vehicle inventory to the classified listings on the site. Among the first manufacturers to provide this new car feed, the nearly 15 million unique visitors on AutoTrader.com will have access to all new vehicle inventories of Kia dealers nationwide.

"As one of the first manufacturers to provide this kind of information online, this new partnership with AutoTrader.com demonstrates the already-strong online marketing presence Kia Motors maintains and is another step toward providing consumers with access to the most current Kia vehicles on the market today," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA. "With an extensive and ever-expanding line-up we are able to provide a wide array of Kia vehicles to ensure buyers have a broad selection when seeking a new vehicle."

Each listing, automatically uploaded, will include one stock photo, a thumbnail of that photo, a contact link and phone number and links to the new cars listing page for that dealer. Adding these classified listings has shown to increase dealer inquiries through a higher number of consumer e-mails, map and phone inquiries and quotes.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2007, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of record U.S. sales. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Kia Motors America is the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site -- www.kia.com.

Reasonably priced sedan is upscale, powerful

It doesn't cost an arm and a leg to enjoy a luxurious, powerful sedan. Take a test-drive in a Kia Amanti to feel quality and performance.

Back in 2005 this midsize sedan earned the J.D. Power and Associates APEAL Award. Since then, Kia has kept making improvements. The 2009 model now offers SIRIUS Satellite Radio and MP3 playback capability, plus a whole new audio system.

Although Kia hasn't as yet disclosed an exact price for the 2009 Amanti, it is expected to be about $26,500, which is a bargain considering what this sedan has to offer: spacious interior, luxurious appointments and a very exciting engine.

What was surprising to me about the Amanti was the V-6 produces a good 264 horsepower and this front-wheel drive sedan accelerates quickly. The engine is linked to a five-speed electronically controlled Sportmatic transmission with overdrive. The Kia Amanti is rated to achieve 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway - using regular gasoline.

My tester featured the colors of dark red wine/black -- one of eight choices -- giving it a quality exterior appearance as it sate on 17-inch sparkling alloy wheels.

Amanti provides luxury accommodations at a bargain price.

The Amanti has a massive grille with front projection fog lights and clear-lens halogen headlamps. It also has tinted windows and at the rear end it has a dual-exhaust system, plus a very large trunk. It also had the optional leather package, which included upscale appointments, such as two-position memory settings for both the driver's seat and outside mirrors.

As standard equipment the Amanti comes with an 8-way power driver's seat, (4-way power passenger's seat) and both seats can be heated. It also has an auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, leather-covered steering wheel with cruise control and a keyless entry and alarm system. Even the three rear seats are spacious and comfortable.

If you are looking to be swaddled in comfort this is the place.

Another elegant touch: one-touch up/down front windows. The 2009 model now has a 5.5-inch display screen, replacing the 4-inch monitor.

On the road the Amanti responded in the same manner as sedans costing nearly twice as much. I was able to take every bend in up- and down hill curved back roads and accelerate through them with precision.

Kia engineers say the Amanti is built with a precise power rack-and-pinion steering system that will adapt to sudden driving changes. It also has a fully independent suspension, featuring gas pressurized shocks, a double wishbone suspension and rear multilink setup, plus other attributes that are commonly associated with pricier luxury cars.

Regarding safety equipment the Kia Amanti has more standard airbags than any other vehicle in its segment. The Amanti has side-impact airbags for the second row passengers. Most vehicles are offered with front row side-impact airbags only. The Amanti has dual front airbags, and full-length side curtain airbags. The list of standard safety features also includes anti-lock brakes; active front headrests; anti-pinch windows; front and rear three-point seatbelts; and front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters.

The Amanti also has electronic stability control, traction control, brake assist, which are part of the optional Electronic Stability Control Package.

From the rear the Kia Amanti presents styling very similar to some high dollar British cars.

Kia comes with a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, plus a 24-hour roadside assistance plan.

Put all this together and compare the price to just about any other midsize car and it becomes quite evident that luxury, quality and performance doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.

Tom Keane MOTOR MATTERS

Larger SUV is Kia's newest model

MADISON, Wis. -- The Kia Borrego has strong engines, roomy, comfortable seats, top crash test ratings, plentiful features and a surprisingly quiet interior.

It's just too bad that the Borrego, new for 2009, is a sizable sport utility vehicle that comes to the United States this year as consumers are turning away from truckish SUVs toward more fuel-efficient vehicles.

At 16 feet long and with three rows of seats standard, the seven-passenger Borrego is the largest SUV from South Korean automaker Kia, topping the Sorento, which remains at showrooms. The Borrego also is the first Kia -- car or SUV -- to offer a V-8 in the States.

And it's the Kia with the highest starting manufacturer's suggested retail price: $26,995 for a base LX with two-wheel drive and 276-horsepower V-6.

The previous highest-priced Kia was the Amanti sedan at $26,220.

With four-wheel drive, the Borrego starts at $29,045, and with 337-horsepower V-8, the starting retail price goes over $30,000.

Both SUV engines produce more power than those in many competitors. For example, the Borrego's 3.8-liter, double overhead cam V-6 has 26 more horses and 14 more foot-pounds of torque, to 267 foot-pounds at 4,400 rpm, than the 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 that's in the 2009 Honda Pilot.

Yet the base retail price for a two-wheel drive Pilot is some $1,200 more: $28,265, including destination charge.

Similar in size to the Pilot and the 2009 Ford Explorer, the Borrego looks bigger than it handles and is one of the few new SUVs that's built the way traditional SUVs were built -- as a body-on-frame model.

This contrasts with the more trendy car-based crossover SUVs that have been flooding the market and allows the Borrego to offer greater capability for off-roading and strong towing. Indeed, the Borrego with V-8 is rated to tow 7,500 pounds compared with the 4,500-pound maximum in a Pilot with V-6. The Pilot is not offered with a V-8.

Kia has never offered a truck-based SUV before, and the platform for the Borrego is new. The SUV has a front wishbone suspension configuration and an independent multilink rear suspension.

The ride in the tester with optional, uplevel 18-inch wheels and tires was hardly refined compared with that of the crossover SUVs.

Even though passengers remained above the bumps, they readily noticed a lot of jiggling as the Borrego went over sizable road bumps.

There was a sense of body lean and mass shifting, too, as the SUV went around curves. Unsprung weight -- a heavy bouncing of wheels and heavy components at the vehicle's four corners -- was a reminder that this isn't a car-like ride.

But the Borrego's hefty 4,200-plus-pound weight doesn't hold back the engine power.

The test two-wheel drive Borrego had the V-6 and five-speed automatic transmission, and I never lacked for good power. The SUV moved swiftly from stoplights and kept a brisk pace easily, and the transmission shifted smoothly.

If a buyer isn't going to do heavy towing, the V-6 -- with the best fuel economy rating of 17 miles per gallon in city driving and 21 mpg on the highway -- could be a good choice. In comparison, with the 4.6-liter V-8, the Borrego is rated at 15/22 mpg with two-wheel drive.

Both federal government mileage ratings are lower than that of many other three-row crossover SUVs, such as the Pilot and Saturn Outlook.

But in the test Borrego, I got pretty close to the 17 mpg rating for city driving, and that was without trying.

The Borrego is pleasantly styled, in a mainstream way. It looks like many other SUVs, and never turned a head during the test drive. I enjoyed the good views out the front and sides that the tall-riding Borrego afforded. But the dominating feature I saw from the driver's seat was the large, tall hood over the engine.

Thank goodness the test vehicle had optional running boards at the doors, because I would have had to hoist myself quite a bit to get inside.

I could hard believe that the turning circle on the four-wheel drive was so tidy: 36.5 feet. This is better than some sedans.

Headroom and legroom are generous, though passengers in the two rearmost seats rest on seat cushions that are near the floor, so knees sit up a bit. But thanks to second-row seats that slide forward and aft, the legroom among the rows can be adjusted and apportioned as needed.

The fit and finish on the test Borrego were excellent, and controls were within easy reach. The display screen for the optional navigation system is smaller than that of Toyotas and Hondas, and the automatic transmission includes a shift-it-yourself mechanism that isn't found in a lot of other SUVs.

The Borrego, like all Kias, comes with a lengthy powertrain warranty that's good for 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Most competitors offer three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Kia installed a long list of standard safety equipment, including frontal and curtain air bags, electronic stability control, antilock brakes and front-seat, anti-whiplash head restraints. A backup warning system is standard, too, but a rearview camera is optional.

Kia officials have modest sales goals of 12,000 this year for the Borrego.