2011 Hyundai Santa Fe to join Kia Sorento at Georgia factory

Hyundai will launch production of the 2011 Sante Fe on Sept. 27 alongside the 2011 Kia Sorento at the recently opened Kia factory in West Point, Ga.

The plant will add a second shift on Oct. 1 to accommodate the additional vehicles, and the total number of local workers will grow from 1,900 to 7,000, including nearby suppliers.

The move allows Kia to better use the factory in Georgia, its first in North America. The 2011 Sorento went into production in November, and 59,024 have been sold through July in the United States.

Look for more production to be added to the plant, which has a total capacity of 300,000 annually.

“Building on the Sorento's initial success, this new addition to the product line expands [the factory's] volume and increases our commitment to the U.S. and local economy,” said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of Kia Motors America and the Georgia site.

By Greg Migliore