Kia is Making a New Plant In Georgia to Build EV9 SUV

Kia plans to invest $200 million dollars in building a plant in Georgia to create the new EV9 SUV.

New Plant

The information was introduced through South Korean automakers as foreign automakers doubled down on North American manufacturing in order to qualify for federal EV tax credits. Assembly on the continent is needed for automobiles to be eligible for up to $7,500 under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed in August 2022.

Kia stated it will add approximately 200 jobs to construct the technology-packed, three-row SUV, in addition to four other models. The EV9 will be Kia’s first EV to be assembled in the U.S. Hyundai Motor Group, which owns Kia, is also working with battery manufacturer SK On to build a brand new battery-manufacturing plant in the state. SK Innovation has additionally opened a $2.6 billion battery plant in Georgia to produce batteries for Ford.

When Kia first revealed its EV9 SUV in March, it became clear that the automobile was best for the North American market. It’s affordable and large, has lots of range, can act as a mobile power source, and has an array of sensors to permit an advanced driver assistance system. The introduction of the plant is consistent with Kia’s latest push to boom EV income and hit $122 billion in gross sales by 2030. That’s backed by $24 billion in funding into the automaker’s electrification approach that aims to see Kia sell 1 million EVs by 2026. In 2024, Kia aims additionally to start working on its first dedicated EV manufacturing facility in Gwangmyeong. Kia plans to launch 15 new EV models by 2027.

Sean Yoon, president and CEO of Kia North America, said that the “EV9 has the potential to be another ‘game changer’ for Kia.” He added, “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.”

Kia’s First EV to Be Assembled in the U.S.

The EV9 is the largest electric-powered automobile from Kia thus far and its first three-row electric-powered SUV. Kia says the EV9 is reshaping the organization with a “bold vision for the new era of electrification.”

As such, the EV9 consists of a number of state-of-the-art in-vehicle technology, including Kia’s most advanced Highway Driving Pilot, OTA updates, onboard strength generator functionality (V2L), and ultra-wideband-based Digital Key. The EV9 will be available in two powertrain options. The standard is a 76.1 kWh battery (fourth-generation) with a 215 hp motor. In addition, a 99.8 kWh battery p.c. will be presented with a single engine, targeting 300 miles range, or a dual-motor 379 hp torque-vectoring AWD configuration with 516 lb-feet of torque.

Kia is predicted to start assembling the EV9 at its West Point, Georgia plant starting in the second quarter of 2024. The automaker began delivering the electric SUV to customers in South Korea last month, collecting 13,000 preorders in its first eight days on the market.

Southern KIA Greenbrier

With a new plant being built and the EV9 being assembled in the States, this is a new stepping stone for Kia. The EV9 is already showing great sales in South Korea, and it is bound to be a hot seller in the United States. Come on into Southern Kia Greenbrier to see when you can get your own EV9.