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| Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice President Chung Euisun, right, and Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp pose for a photo during an event held at Kia Motor's Georgia plant, Monday. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Hyundai Motor Group will become one of the world's top "smart mobility" service providers by offering flying suits, flying cars and other revolutionary devices, the head of Korea's largest carmaker said Tuesday.
While celebrating Kia Motors' accumulated production of 3 million vehicles at its Georgia plant over the past 10 years, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun said the company and its larger affiliate Hyundai Motor will become trailblazers in "future mobility."
"We will offer the world's best smart mobility services, expanding our horizons beyond vehicle production," Chung said. "In the future, we will manufacture not only cars but also personal air vehicles and robots, and offer all related services."
Kia began operating the plant in Georgia, its third overseas factory at the time, in 2009 following ones in China and Slovakia.
Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), which covers 2,612,000 square meters, has played a key role in strengthening the company's presence in the U.S. market ever since and currently has a production capacity of 340,000 vehicles per year.
The plant currently manufactures the K5 sedan, the Sorento and the Telluride SUVs. The three models accounted for 40 percent of the company's overall U.S. sales in the January to October period this year, according to Kia.
At an event to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Georgia plant, Chung thanked employees, local partners, and state and local officials for their support over the past decade.
"The support we have received since the very beginning, from state and local governments, civic organizations and various partners, has been critical to the success of Kia's first American plant," Chung said.
He emphasized that KMMG will continue to play an important part of the company's global operations.
About 1,000 guests attended the ceremony celebrating the first decade of production at the plant, including Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp.
"We are so proud that Kia chose to make our state its home, and I thank Chung and the entire KMMG team for driving growth in Georgia while continuing to be industry leaders in safety and quality," Kemp said.
In line with Hyundai Motor Group's strategy to become a smart mobility systems provider, Kia Motors has been stepping up efforts to adapt to the rapidly changing automotive landscape.
The automaker recently announced that it would establish an autonomous driving joint venture with Aptiv in the U.S.
