Thursday, December 13, 2007
Sorento to be first locally-produced Kia
Last week in Las Vegas Kia officials announced an SUV redesign of its next generation Sorento, which is expected to roll off production lines in 2009 at the company’s West Point, Ga., site.
November 13, 2007
Last week in Las Vegas Kia officials announced an SUV redesign of its next generation Sorento, which is expected to roll off production lines in 2009 at the company’s West Point, Ga., site.
The 2010 model Sorento is based on the company’s existing mid-size SUV, which sports a V6 engine and earned a five-star crash safety rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Randy Jackson, director of human resources for Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia Inc., said the Sorento redesign was announced to auto dealers in Las Vegas Tuesday during the company’s national dealer convention meeting.
“The theme was ‘Roadmap to Georgia,’ “ Jackson said.
On Nov. 6, Auto News reported that the first product to roll off production lines in Georgia would be the redesigned Sorento.
“The five-seat Sorento now is Kia’s largest SUV. Job 1 is scheduled for November 2009. A second vehicle, which the company did not name, also is scheduled for the plant,“ according to http://www.autonews.com.
Aside from the redesigned Sorento, Car Design News reported that Kia is looking to strengthen its SUV lineup with the new Sportage and Borrego.
As part of a U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored validation program, Kia’s second-generation hydrogen fuel cell electric Sportage is currently undergoing long-term testing in the United States, according to http://www.kia-buzz.com. The company recently displayed its fuel cell electric vehicle platform at a Frankfurt Motor Show.
“This new platform represents the next step forward in Kia’s continuing commitment to develop cleaner, greener production vehicles for the future. Kia’s computer simulations indicate that clothed in a Sorento-type body, the new FCEV could accelerate to 100 kph in just 10 seconds, reach a top speed of 170 kph and achieve a 600 km range - all with zero emissions,“ according to Kia Buzz.
While Kia is in the midst of launching an aggressive hiring campaign in Georgia for its hourly employees, salaried position interviews have been ongoing. To help in the salaried recruitment effort, Kia has hired Management Recruiters of Auburn-Opelika LLC and JC Malone Associates of Louisville, Ky. As far as hourly positions go, Jackson says online job applications will “soon” be posted at http://www.kiajobsingeorgia.com.
“We’re still testing the system for bugs,“ Jackson said. “We want to make sure everything we do is tested. If it takes a little bit longer to make sure it (online job application) is perfect, we’ll take that time.“
Once hired, he says, some salaried and hourly employees will be sent to Korea to train. Meanwhile talk remains centered on production numbers; the company expects to crank out 300,000 Kia-made vehicles annually creating 2,500 jobs. Jackson says Kia’s $20 million onsite training center is almost complete.
“That’s where we’ll do our interviews, role-playing and training of new hires,“ he said.
Construction of a stamping plant is already under way at the West Point, Ga., site where steel structures are expected to rise in December. And Jackson says welding, paint and assembly shops are in the works. There are reportedly 300 workers onsite where AMCO serves as general contractor.
As company officials continue to have regular supplier meetings, Jackson says the Kia plant is expected to lure five to six auto suppliers creating 2,000 additional new jobs.
“The drive from West Point, Ga., to Montgomery will be an auto-based drive; motorists will see a corridor of suppliers,“ Jackson said.
For salaried position information at the Kia plant in West Point, Ga., contact Management Recruiters of Auburn-Opelika LLC at 334-749-4941 or visit its Web site at http://www.mrauburn.com. Electronic resumes are welcome at . In the subject line, type in the word, “Kia.“ Resumes for salaried positions are also being accepted at JC Malone Associates of Louisville, Ky.; the company can be reached at 502-456-2380. For more Kia job information, visit http://www.kiajobsingeorgia.com, the Georgia Department of Labor Career Centers at http://www.dol.state.ga.us or Georgia’s Quick Start program at http://www.georgiaquickstart.org.
Georgia’s Kia plant is tentatively scheduled to ramp up production in November of 2009.
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