Kia Georgia Inc.’s West Point assembly plant is undergoing a transformation that will allow for the assembly of the all-electric 2024 EV9 three-row SUV in the second quarter of 2024, the company announced on Wednesday.
According to Kia, this $200-million-plus expansion will create nearly 200 additional jobs in Troup County, Georgia. The EV9 will join the Telluride, Sorento and Sportage SUVs and the K5 midsize sedan as the fifth model to be assembled at Kia Georgia. EV9 will be Kia’s first electric vehicle (EV) assembled in North America.
"Like Telluride, EV9 has the potential to be another 'game changer' for Kia," said Sean Yoon, president and CEO, Kia North America and Kia America. "This will be the most sophisticated vehicle that we have ever built and will be a standout in the EV market and on the road. Best of all, it will be assembled in West Point, Georgia."
The EV9 may qualify for the Clean Vehicle Credit in accordance with the Inflation Reduction Act signed in August 2022. To qualify for the maximum $7,500 consumer credit, an EV must be assembled in North America, among other requirements.
Currently, more than 40% of Kia vehicles sold in the United States are manufactured in West Point. To date, Kia has invested more than $1.9 billion in the state and Kia Georgia is responsible for more than 14,000 plant and supplier jobs in the region. In addition to the U.S., Kia Georgia supplies vehicles to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Middle East and Pacific nations.
"Georgia’s longstanding partnership with Kia has led to generational job creation and growth for the West Point area," said Governor Brian Kemp. "As a national leader in the automotive industry, I am proud of Kia's continued impact on the Peach State. As we noted earlier this year, this project will both bring more opportunity to hardworking Georgians and help propel the state toward our goal of becoming the e-mobility capital."
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