Since Hyundai/Kia has dropped the idea of a pickup truck, Kia's new assembly plant in West Point, Georgia will instead turn out small cars. The first vehicle that will roll off the assembly lines in 2009 is Kia's Sorento, with body on frame construction well suited to a pickup. What doesn't seem primed for a pickup, however, is a softening market, so Kia has decided to redouble its efforts on small cars.
No details about the upcoming car were discussed, only that we should expect a Spectra-sized C-segment vehicle that may be shared with Hyundai. Hyundai CEO Kim Dong-Jin confessed to the organization losing its way slightly by slacking off on small, high volume cars and going after larger vehicles to bolster the brand images and offerings. A return to its roots will please dealers, and the Genesis Coupe will kick off a turbocharging frenzy at Kia, which will focus on small displacement forced induction engines.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Cole Mitguard @ May 27th 2008 7:14AM
This is a beautiful thing, the one benefit of a weak dollar, we finally see some investment here in the United States. This is going to mean US jobs, and more importantly, even when the dollar goes back up, its going to be a continuing source of Tax revenue for this country, as Kia is not really able to just pick up and run once they invest the billions needed for an assembly plant.
Russell @ May 27th 2008 10:01AM
There always been auto plant investments by the foreign car companies to US regardless of weak or strong US currency. This investment had nothing to do with the weak dollar. Investment by Samsung in Austin Texas had nothing to do with the weak dollar. Toyota plant in Texas and Ohio had nothing to do with weak dollar. Mercedes and Nissan's plant in US had nothing to do with the weak dollar. None of them left the country to void taxes. No company just pick up and run after sizable investment. Companies don't invest billion of dollars in a manufacturing plants to "pick up and run."
I don't know where you get this idea that companies "pick up and run" after investing billions of dollars just to void taxes. I don't know where you got this idea that Kia is building an auto plant because of the weak US currency. Which Junior college classes or pop-tv-news programs teach this stuff?
Cole Mitguard @ May 27th 2008 10:16AM
Hahaha, "Junior college classes or pop-tv-news" I like that. But no seriously, I do understand that firms invest in this country with both a weak and strong dollar, but if you do not think that investment increases with a weak US dollar, well then sir I do say then you need to at least find yourself a HS economics class. And as for them not being able to get and run, that is what I was saying, I am aware that they are unable to leave after their investment, hence when the US dollar does increase, which means that our Real Tax revenue will increase, that will be good for the US.
I_Hate_China @ May 27th 2008 10:18AM
Hyundai/Kia's only trying to flee from its militant labor union that has made it more expensive to build cars in Korea than in the US.
It has nothing to do with exchange rate.
jgp @ May 27th 2008 7:27AM
"Spectra-sized C-segment vehicle"? Could this be the Ceed?
MCx @ May 27th 2008 8:55AM
I really hope that is the cee'd! The first time I layed my eyes on that car, I knew I wanted it in the US.
Now, with hatchbacks and a market demanding well outfitted small cars (i.e Mazda 3 hatchback, Rabbit, A3, etc) this car could be a real seller!
The interior of the cee'd is AWESOME too. So many neat features and it was so well thought out.
BRING IT KIA!
lx703 @ May 27th 2008 9:14AM
A new Kia factory, new interest in small cars, new interest in turbocharging small engines, new US jobs, and a new Spectra-class car. Several bits of good news indeed!
I don't think the new Spectra-class car will be a Cee'd for the US; I think it will indeed be the new Spectra, which they should offer in both five and four doors.
I_Hate_China @ May 27th 2008 10:21AM
> "Spectra-sized C-segment vehicle"? Could this be the Ceed?
Unlikely. The US market hates hatchback.
HD chassis is quite flexible and could turn out a wide-range of vehicles, Optimia, Spectra, Elantra, Sportage, Tuscan, Koup, etc.
imoore @ May 27th 2008 10:29AM
Kia not building trucks? Don't believe it. Honda said the same thing and now we have the Ridgeline. They might be able to fool everyone else, but they're not snowballing me. Give them a year or two to make a formal presentation.
Aprime @ May 27th 2008 10:54PM
Gas prices and a downsizing market.
HOLY SHEET GUYS WE SHOULD HAVE AN ENTRY IN A DYING (well not really, but it's slowing down to a point where it's simply not worth the costs) MARKET.
This is why GM is dropping out of the minivan game and concentrating on the newly born MPV segment.
himi @ May 27th 2008 10:29AM
The C-segment car mentioned in a narticle is a 4-door sedan based on cee'd platform yes!
It's a Spectra successor and will be coming to Korean market late this year and you can expect to see it in U.S. in the first half of 2009.
We might also see a production version of Kia KOUP coming out about six month after the sedan reaches the dealers.
Here are some spy shots of the C-segment car:
http://www.kia-world.net/index.php/2007/12/20/more-spectra-replcement-spy-shots/
iSpec @ May 27th 2008 10:35AM
The Kia Pro-Ceed and Hyundai i30 are formidable contenders in Europe.
http://www.topgear.com/drives/C0/CE/roadtests/01/01.html
http://autos.yahoo.com/auto-shows/geneva_auto_show_2007/102/2008-hyundai-i30
Philip @ May 27th 2008 11:22AM
Its too bad Kia wont be building the truck, It looked good.
Id like to see them build that small pick up we all need, and a small Astro sized Cargo van with an economical engine would be good too, Show the Big three how its done.
Kotse @ May 27th 2008 12:21PM
'Ceed or the new Spectra...either way, keep the prices low and quality high with good mpgs', plus the upcoming Soul...
Kia's on the roll.
whofan @ May 27th 2008 8:56PM
I`m a big 3 American fan but I like this. I hope Hyundai/Kia kicks Toyotas ass in this country. They build better cars than Toyota. Its the perception of that they need to work on.