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Kia halts production in West Point

The largest Korean presence in Georgia is near West Point: the assembly plant run by Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia.
The largest Korean presence in Georgia is near West Point: the assembly plant run by Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia.
By Andy Peters
March 20, 2020

Kia Motors has stopped production at its vehicle assembly factory in West Point because of supply-chain related issues. The carmaker did not say if the coronavirus caused the problems.

The South Korean company halted work on Thursday and the shutdown will continue today, according to a news release. Normal operations are scheduled to resume on Monday.

Kia did not elaborate on the nature of the supply chain issues. Rick Douglas, a Kia spokesman, said the facility has had no confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Kia will perform “routine maintenance activities” during the shutdown, as well as “cleaning and sanitizing processes to workstations throughout the facility as part of its prevent measures related to COVID-19 risks.”

Kia, the only automobile company with a manufacturing facility in Georgia, makes Sorrento SUVs and Optima sedans in West Point. Other carmakers, including GM, Ford, Honda and Toyota, have suspended production at North American plants, according to Automotive News.

About the Author

Andy Peters covers commercial real estate, economic development, banking and financial services.

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