Kia EV9 Starts Assembly at West Point, Georgia Plant

The Kia Corp has been on a roll lately when it comes to its Plan S Strategy to become a leading brand in the world of battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales. One of the best ways to do that is to expand its lineup of electrified vehicles quickly. In 2022, Kia announced a business plan to produce two BEVs every year until 2027, and so far the automaker is on track with Kia EV6, Kia EV9, the Kia EV3 revealed in May, and most recently, a sneak peek at the Kia EV4. Many concepts are coming to life, but the original EV6 and EV9 continue to win awards and set milestones. The latest is the historic milestone at Kia Georgia’s assembly plant in West Point to celebrate the start of assembly of the first retail electric vehicle assembled in the state of Georgia, the all-electric 2025 EV9 three-row SUV.

“Today’s launch of the Kia EV9 in Georgia is the latest example of Kia’s commitment to the U.S. market and the state of Georgia…Through Plan S, Kia is poised to be a leader in the e-mobility sector for years to come. Having achieved prestigious accolades such as World Car of the Year, World EV of the Year, and North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, EV9 will be in excellent hands with the team members at Kia Georgia and their track record for assembling award-winning, world-renowned products speaks for itself.” – SeungKyu (Sean) Yoon, President and CEO for Kia North America and Kia America

Making a name for oneself in the U.S. can be a hard move to pull off for overseas automakers, but Kia has continued to bring new models to the Kia America lineup for the U.S. and Canada for several years now. Whether electrifying an old favorite, like the Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid, or launching a new BEV on a global scale, consumers are getting more interested in what Kia has to offer. Back when the Kia EV6 first launched, it popped up in just as many American auto shows as it did overseas. The EV6 was quick to come to the States, whereas the EV9 first made rounds in Europe before landing stateside. Now, the EV9 gets a new home in Georgia at the assembly plant in West Point.

The automaker has been getting more invested in Georgia for several years, such as helping the community by donating $100,000 towards tornado disaster relief in 2023. Kia also expanded its relationship with Georgia Tech to collaborate for the future of sustainable mobility through the Hyundai Motor Group. The parent group of Kia, the Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) also announced the first “Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America” (HMGMA) to expand the BEV offerings of HMG and Kia in the states, also set to be constructed in Georgia.

Currently produced on the Kia Georgia assembly line are the Kia Telluride, Kia Sorento, and Kia Sportage. more than $200 million went into the expansion of the Georgia plant to make it flexible enough to handle both, the company’s traditional products (internal combustion engine models) and new BEV offerings. The Kia EV9 joins these vehicles and paves the way for more upcoming BEVs to find a home in America in Georgia. A long-shared relationship, Kia Georgia rolled the first Kia off the assembly line 15 years ago on November 16, 2009. We’re sure many more are to come.

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Photo Source/Copyright: Kia Media