Going the Extra Mile for KIA
Hard work, fast response and tightly knit partnerships helped Georgia win Kia Motors’ first auto manufacturing plant in the United States.
Relationships developed in Korea by Georgia’s international office in Seoul accelerated quickly, and just six months after Kia requested a special meeting with Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) officials, the Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) project was announced.
Kia chose Georgia for its talented, dedicated and available workforce; world-class transportation infrastructure; the top state-sponsored employee training program in the country; internationally respected pro-growth business climate; and its commitment to cultivating innovation. These resources have helped bring the facility to full capacity quickly.
Since beginning operations in 2009, KMMG has produced more than 3 million vehicles. The 2,200-acre, $1.1 billion Troup County plant has 2,700 employees and the capacity to produce 340,000 vehicles each year: the Sorento, the K5 (formerly the Optima) and the Telluride. The company and its suppliers have also produced more than 14,000 jobs in the West Georgia region.
Today, KMMG produces more than 40% of all Kia vehicles sold in the U.S. More than 90% of vehicles assembled in West Point are sent to 940 dealerships in the U.S. and Canada. Vehicles are also delivered to Mexico and to Caribbean and Pacific nations. GDEcD’s Trade Division helped Kia arrange with the Georgia Ports Authority to ship the Telluride to the Middle East through the Brunswick port.
“The overall support of the state agencies has been nothing less than outstanding,” observes Jangsoo (Jason) Shin, President and Chief Executive Officer of KMMG. “You can’t beat the depth and breadth of Georgia’s resources, from start-up infrastructure to continued operations. The agencies are highly coordinated and support the growth of manufacturing.”
More than a dozen local entities have assisted Kia over the years. State partners include the Departments of Labor, Transportation and Community Affairs, the Georgia Ports Authority, the Attorney General’s office and the state’s technical college system.
Shin says KMMG is proud to be an inaugural partner in Georgia Made™, a program through the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) that provides additional support in logistics, manufacturing and marketing of products produced in Georgia. Governor Brian Kemp visited the plant to help launch the initiative.
“Georgia is ranked No. 1 for business, and this program gives manufacturers like us an opportunity to talk about our success stories, not just commercially, but publicly,” he says.
Company leaders praise the contributions of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and its Quick Start program. Quick Start constructed and partners with Kia in operating the 70,000-square-foot Kia Georgia Training Center, implementing innovative approaches to provide customized, advanced industrial training for KMMG’s employees.
“Georgia Quick Start is a model for workforce training programs,” says Shin. “It facilitated the first online application process in the state and has processed over 125,000 applications for Kia jobs.”
Shin also applauds Georgia Quick Start for developing a maintenance certification program that is now offered as a course at West Georgia Technical College to help KMMG overcome a challenge in finding workers experienced in industrial maintenance.
In fact, the company’s workforce development initiatives have generated dozens of co-op programs for technical college and university students. KMMG also sponsors local school system STEM programs as well as Troup County’s THINC College and Career Academy, a model facility giving students the chance to explore multiple career fields and work inside KMMG operations.
KMMG’s impact in West Georgia goes beyond the jobs and economic recovery it’s generated. Its corporate social responsibility program includes not only education, but diversity, wellness and the environment.
One such initiative is “The Ray,” a section of West Georgia’s I-85 that’s a proving ground for evolving transportation technology. As part of the corridor, KMMG sponsors a free solar panel charging center and tire inspection center at the state-operated West Point Visitor Information Center.
During the COVID-19 crisis, KMMG has adapted its operations to produce face shields. With GDEcD and the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute helping source parts, the company has produced around 550,000 thus far. KMMG has donated thousands of critical supplies to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency: face shields, masks, gloves, surgical caps, alcohol pads and BioHazard bags. The company has also offered six Kia vehicles to deliver medical supplies around the state.
“Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia asked how they could help, and then stepped up to provide life-saving equipment for the heroes in the front lines in the battle against COVID-19,” says Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “We thank Kia once again for being such a strong partner in our Georgia Made™ family.”
“Commissioner Wilson focuses on the importance of personal relationships within Georgia,” says Shin. “Success really starts with those and the confidence that grows from them, more than from business deals. Between the state and local economic groups, we have a great network of accessibility to find out what we need to know to succeed in Georgia.”
Consistently ranked the “#1 State for Business” for seven years running, Georgia’s skilled workforce, reliable infrastructure, low taxes, high state credit ratings and development resources are here to help you start and grow your business. Visit Georgia Made™ to take the next step in expanding your success.
About KMMG: Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) is the first manufacturing site in North America for Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, Korea. With an annual capacity of 340,000 units, KMMG is located on 2,200 acres in West Point, Georgia, and began mass production on Nov. 16, 2009. KMMG is home to the Telluride SUV, Sorento SUV and K5 mid-size sedan.