Kia: Next-Generation Sorento CUV to be produced in America

As Hyundai and Kia are rapidly permeating throughout American grounds, it became more evident with an announcement made by Kia on Tuesday during an annual dealers' meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kia will commence production of the next-generation Sorento sport-utility at its West Point, Georgia plant when it opens in 2009. The 2010 Sorento will share platforms with the Hyundai Santa Fe, meaning it will be a car-based crossover instead of the current body-on-frame underpinning.

The powertrains for the 2010 Kia Sorento will be manufactured at Hyundai's plant in Montgomery, Alabama. The Sorento will be the only model in production when the plant opens for the first time. Since Kia expects an annual production capacity of around 300,000, the light of a second model manufactured in the plant comes up. Alex Fedorak, Kia spokesman, stated that the second model will not be added until the plant's break-in process which will occur after the opening of the facility.

[Source: The Montgomery Advertiser]

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