Kia Motors America, Inc. (KMA), the sales and marketing arm of the company, is based in Irvine, Calif. and along with KMMG, is dedicated to the strategies of its parent company, Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) of Seoul, South Korea. KMC, the fastest growing automaker in the world, was founded in 1944 and is Korea's oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. Kia means to "arise or come out of Asia" and Kia has truly risen as a global player, boasting an ever-expanding product line-up.
A few of the many significant events for Kia through the years include:
Today, the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group is the world's fifth leading automotive manufacturer with group revenue of $100 billion in 2007 and over 120,000 employees worldwide.
Kia has managed some pretty incredible growth during the past few years, both in the number of dealers who sell Kia vehicles and in the number of owners who are driving them. Today, there are more than one-million Kia vehicles on American roads. With every year that passes, more and more people are discovering the value of owning a Kia.
The guiding principles are easily stated: "Provide high-quality, high value vehicles at prices well below the competition and back them up with the Kia 10-year/100,000-mile Warranty Program and a customer-first policy."
Safety is always the priority, from concept to crash test. Kia Motors is determined that every one of its vehicles should always be as safe as possible, and this goal is ensured by a rigorous system of collision tests and simulations. Right up until the finished vehicle reaches the customer, Kia maintains a thorough customer-oriented quality control system, precisely assessing the customers' needs and demands to enhance the production process.
KMMG Milestones:
March 13, 2006 — Kia President E.S. Chung and Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue sign the contracts for Kia to build its first North American automobile manufacturing facility on over 2,200 acres in West Point.
June 2006 — The State of Georgia begins site preparation at the 650-acre Kia building pad.
October 20, 2006 — A groundbreaking ceremony is held for KMMG.
November 12, 2007 — KMMG announces its first production vehicle will be the next generation Kia Sorento.
December 10, 2007 — The first beam is erected on the KMMG building pad.
January 8, 2008 — KMMG President/CEO B.M. Ahn and Team Members celebrate the opening of Kia's online application process with Georgia Quick Start.
February 7, 2008 — KMMG's first application process closes with an automotive industry benchmark-setting 43,013 applications received.
March 25, 2008 — KMMG and state officials celebrate the grand opening of the $20 million Kia Georgia Training Center in conjunction with Georgia Quick Start, the state's workforce training program.
August 4, 2008 — The first hourly Team Members begin work at KMMG.
October 28, 2008 — KMMG President/CEO B.M. Ahn and Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue attend a celebration for the arrival of the stamping press at KMMG.
December 10, 2008 — Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announces the opening of Exit 6 along Interstate 85, Kia Parkway and Kia Boulevard to the public.
March 27, 2009 — Team members begin moving to the plant site in West Point.
April 17, 2009 — All KMMG team members move to the plant site.
November 16, 2009 — KMMG starts mass producing the 2011 Kia Sorento.
February 26, 2010 — KMMG celebrates grand opening with ceremony attended by Hyundai Automotive Group Chairman M.K. Chung and Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue.
April 21, 2010 — KMMG produces 50,000th vehicle.
A few of the many significant events for Kia through the years include:
- KMC was originally called "Kyungsung Precision Industry" when it was established in 1944.
- In 1951, Kia produced Korea's first bicycle.
- In 1961, Kia produced Korea's first motorcycle.
- The K-360, Korea's first domestically produced truck, was produced by Kia in 1962.
- The Brisa, Korea's first domestically produced passenger car, was first produced in 1974.
- Kia's most widely-sold vehicle, Pride, was first produced in 1986.
- The Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group was formed in 1998.
- Kia's brand-leading SUV, the Sorento, was first produced in 2002.
Today, the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group is the world's fifth leading automotive manufacturer with group revenue of $100 billion in 2007 and over 120,000 employees worldwide.
Kia has managed some pretty incredible growth during the past few years, both in the number of dealers who sell Kia vehicles and in the number of owners who are driving them. Today, there are more than one-million Kia vehicles on American roads. With every year that passes, more and more people are discovering the value of owning a Kia.
The guiding principles are easily stated: "Provide high-quality, high value vehicles at prices well below the competition and back them up with the Kia 10-year/100,000-mile Warranty Program and a customer-first policy."
Safety is always the priority, from concept to crash test. Kia Motors is determined that every one of its vehicles should always be as safe as possible, and this goal is ensured by a rigorous system of collision tests and simulations. Right up until the finished vehicle reaches the customer, Kia maintains a thorough customer-oriented quality control system, precisely assessing the customers' needs and demands to enhance the production process.
KMMG Milestones:
March 13, 2006 — Kia President E.S. Chung and Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue sign the contracts for Kia to build its first North American automobile manufacturing facility on over 2,200 acres in West Point.
June 2006 — The State of Georgia begins site preparation at the 650-acre Kia building pad.
October 20, 2006 — A groundbreaking ceremony is held for KMMG.
November 12, 2007 — KMMG announces its first production vehicle will be the next generation Kia Sorento.
December 10, 2007 — The first beam is erected on the KMMG building pad.
January 8, 2008 — KMMG President/CEO B.M. Ahn and Team Members celebrate the opening of Kia's online application process with Georgia Quick Start.
February 7, 2008 — KMMG's first application process closes with an automotive industry benchmark-setting 43,013 applications received.
March 25, 2008 — KMMG and state officials celebrate the grand opening of the $20 million Kia Georgia Training Center in conjunction with Georgia Quick Start, the state's workforce training program.
August 4, 2008 — The first hourly Team Members begin work at KMMG.
October 28, 2008 — KMMG President/CEO B.M. Ahn and Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue attend a celebration for the arrival of the stamping press at KMMG.
December 10, 2008 — Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announces the opening of Exit 6 along Interstate 85, Kia Parkway and Kia Boulevard to the public.
March 27, 2009 — Team members begin moving to the plant site in West Point.
April 17, 2009 — All KMMG team members move to the plant site.
November 16, 2009 — KMMG starts mass producing the 2011 Kia Sorento.
February 26, 2010 — KMMG celebrates grand opening with ceremony attended by Hyundai Automotive Group Chairman M.K. Chung and Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue.
April 21, 2010 — KMMG produces 50,000th vehicle.
