Kia raises production plans at West Point factory to 360,000 vehicles

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia will build 360,000 vehicles at its West Point plant starting in 2012, up from the previous plan of 300,000.

The company said it has started expansion projects in the plant's main shops – a second 5,400-ton press in the stamping shop, new robots in the welding shop, a larger paint shop and more equipment in the general assembly area – to raise annual capacity by 60,000 vehicles. Those projects will require an additional $100 million in spending. The plant will produce the Optima and Sorento.

Kia has hired almost 1,000 new employees in preparation for the addition of a third shift that begins later this month. Kia says it has created more than 3,000 jobs at the $1 billion plant.