Kia’s first US-built model rolls off the production line
By Andrew C., 26 Aug, 2010. 0 Comments
2011 Kia Sorento
A white all-new Sorento has momentously rolled off the production line at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) as Kia Motors' first US-built vehicle. It officially opens Kia's first US production plant. KMMG employs 2,500 people and has a target of producing 300,000 vehicles annually at full capacity. The on-site and nearby suppliers create 7,500 additional jobs in the region. B.M. Ahn, President and CEO, Kia Motors America (KMA) and KMMG, said that the start of production at its first plant in the US "further demonstrates [its] commitment to growth in North America." Kia invested $1 billion in KMMG, which aims to establish new benchmarks for vehicle quality and productivity by utilizing some of the world's most advanced manufacturing techniques.
Upon entering the facility, it's notable that KMMG's general assembly area has been outfitted with more than a half mile of height-adjustable conveyors to achieve the best installation position for each team member and reduce physical fatigue. For a more comfortable work environment, wooden flooring was used on the general assembly area.
The 2,200-acre complex includes a body stamping facility, a transmission shop where the Sorento's six-speed automatic transmission is produced and a two mile test track. The plant's 186-foot-long stamping press delivers 5,400 tons of pressure to stamp steel into 17 different types of vehicle panels for the Sorento, operating at a speed of seven to 15 strokes per minute. The stamping equipment extends from almost 20 feet below the floor to 39.4 feet above ground.
Gallery: 2011 Kia Sorento
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