JAKARTA - Kia has made history at its plant in Georgia, USA, which further confirms the role of the facility in the global automotive landscape. The South Korean manufacturer officially launched the first unit of the 2027 Kia Telluride.
Quoting The Korea Car Blog, Thursday, February 26, the model is also the 5 millionth vehicle produced at the West Point facility. The start of production of the redesigned 2027 generation also marks Kia's first hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) assembly in the state of Georgia.
The arrival of the 2027 Telluride HEV is a new chapter in Kia's domestic manufacturing strategy. If previously this plant was known as the production base of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE), now West Point is also producing hybrid models for the first time in the United States.
"As the only factory in the world to build Telluride, today represents much more than just a vehicle launch," said Kia North America and Kia America President and CEO Sean Yoon.
"This reflects the strength of our West Point team, the trust of our customers, and Kia's commitment to building the future of mobility here in Georgia," he added.
Yoon emphasized that the achievement of 5 million units, which coincided with the debut of the first HEV in Georgia, is proof of Kia's transformation towards a product line that is increasingly diversified and electrified.
Since its inception in 2009, Kia Georgia has grown from a regional player to one of the manufacturing pillars in the Southeastern US region. Telluride, which is one of Kia's most successful models, has been produced exclusively in West Point since 2019. Its production scale does not only rely on automation, but also on the adaptability of the workforce.
Kia Georgia President and CEO Stuart Countess emphasized the plant's flexibility in producing gasoline-powered vehicles, electric vehicles (EV), and now HEVs as a key competitive advantage.
"Five million vehicles did not happen by chance. It is the result of the work of a team that has made Kia Georgia widely known. This milestone belongs to the entire team, and we are proud to continue building a shared future in West Point," Countess concluded.
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