Kia plant in Georgia

Business

The plant, called Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, was expanded last year with an additional $100 million investment, and it added the Optima sedan to production.

Kia began operations at the West Point plant in November 2009 after investing $1 billion to produce the Sorento CUV.

West Georgia residents were certainly happy to have the plant and its jobs in their region.

The 2010 Kia Forte on display at the ceremonial opening of the plant in February 2010.

Gov. Sonny Perdue acknowledges Korean Ambassador to the U.S. States Duk-Soo Han and chairman and CEO of Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group Mong Koo Chung during the ceremonial opening of the plant in 2010.

Gov. Sonny Perdue attends the ceremonial opening of the Kia plant in 2010.

The Troup County plant, about 45 minutes southwest of Atlanta, has a capacity for manufacturing 360,000 vehicles each year.

The plant's opening was a blessing for Latasha Culberson, who had to drive more than an hour from Troup County to Atlanta to work before she was hired by Kia.

Water tower at Kia plant in West Point, Ga.

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The plant, called Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, was expanded last year with an additional $100 million investment, and it added the Optima sedan to production.

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