Kia to build EV9 in U.S. starting in second quarter of next year

Kia Corp. EV9 SUV [Photo provided by Kia]

South Korea’s Kia Corp. said on Wednesday that it plans to invest $200 million in a plant in the U.S. state of Georgia to produce the EV9, a large electric sport utility vehicle (SUV).

The company said the $200 million-plus facility expansion plan will enable assembly of the upcoming EV9 SUV alongside the four models currently being assembled at the Georgia plant.

The EV9 will be the first EV Kia manufactures in North America, with commercial production targeted for next year.

Once produced, the EV9 will be the fifth model Kia produces in the U.S. The Georgia plant currently rolls out the Telluride, Sorento, Sportage and K5.

Kia said that the addition of the fifth model could create approximately 200 additional jobs at the Georgia plant.

“Like the Telluride, the EV9 will be another game changer for Kia,” said Sean Yoon, CEO of Kia America. “The EV9 will be the most sophisticated vehicle we have ever built and will stand out in the EV market.”

The state of Georgia said in a press release that “Today, Kia announced that it will invest more than $200 million and create nearly 200 new jobs at its West Point plant to build the EV9 three-row SUV,” adding that EV9 production is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2024.

Kia has invested more than $1.9 billion in Georgia to date and is responsible for more than 14,000 jobs, the state said, noting that earlier this year the state proclaimed January 31 as Kia Day.