WEST POINT, Ga. — The Kia assembly plant being built in west Georgia drew more than 43,000 job applications in a recent 30-day recruitment period.

The factory, which is scheduled to open in November 2009, is expected to employ 2500 people directly and many more at five nearby plants that supply parts. At full capacity, the plant will produce 300-thousand vehicles annually.

Kia used an online processing system to collect applications for the three main positions that will staff the assembly plant — production, maintenance, and tool-and-die maintenance.

West Point is about 75 miles southwest of Atlanta.