Kia Motors Plans $1.6 Billion Investment Over 16 Years at West Point Plant (Columbus: sales, authority)

[Columbus1984]

Great news for the Columbus Region.

Kia Motors sent yet another major signal Wednesday that its fast-paced growth at its mammoth auto assembly plant in West Point is here for the long term.

The company, along with several agencies in Troup County and Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal’s office, said it will be investing $1.6 billion in machinery and other equipment over the next 16 years to “satisfy demand” for Kia’s vehicles in the U.S.

The project was negotiated by Kia, the City of West Point, the West Point Development Authority, the Troup County Industrial Development Authority, the Georgia Department of Economic Development and Georgia Quick Start, the state said.

Since announcing in 2006 plans to build a manufacturing plant on 2,200 acres in West Point and Troup County — about 40 minutes north of Columbus — and launching production in November 2009, Kia Motors hasn’t looked back. The company has rapidly ramped up hiring and production, with U.S. sales of Sorento crossover utility vehicles and now the Optima four-door sedan fueling growth.

In February of this year, the company hit the milestone of assembling its 500,000th vehicle. The behometh plant already has a capacity for manufacturing 360,000 vehicles each year.