Kia Motors America announces its first U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia

Kia Motors Corporation announced plans to construct a $1.2 billion automotive assembly and manufacturing plant in West Point, Ga., at a ceremony attended by KMC President and CEO Euisun Chung and Gov. Sonny Perdue in Seoul. The facility will be Kia’s first manufacturing plant in the U.S. and will begin production in 2009.

The manufacturing facility is expected to produce 300,000 vehicles per year at maximum capacity and will be built on 2,200 acres. Approximately 2,500 jobs will be created in Troup County and the surrounding areas.

“The decision by KMC to build a manufacturing plant in the United States demonstrates their confidence in our ability to further grow sales in the North American market,” said J.H. Lee, president and CEO, Kia Motors America. “The plant is an important development to support our sales goals over the next decade.”

Construction is currently underway on a dedicated Kia corporate campus in Irvine, Calif. that is expected to open in December 2006, and will include a 65,000 square-foot design center. In total, Kia Motors has invested more than $300 million in the United States over the last four years, including a state-of-the-art research and development center in Ann Arbor, Mich. and a custom-built vehicle proving grounds in Mojave, Calif.

Since coming to market in the United States, Kia has expanded to a full product line of vehicles and enjoyed 12 years of consecutive sales records, including 275,871 vehicles in 2005. Most recently, KMA posted record sales for the month of February 2006, and is 3.2-percent ahead of its record setting 2005 sales pace.

Kia Motors America — the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corp. in Seoul, South Korea – offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 630 dealers throughout the United States. For more information visit www.kiamedia.com.