Kia Starts Production Of 2023 Sportage In Georgia

GEORGIA — Kia has officially begun production of its all-new 2023 Sportage subcompact SUV at the plant’s facility in West Point, Georgia.

The new Kia Sportage is the fourth model produced in the Peach State, now joining the Telluride SUV, Sorento SUV and K5 mid-size sedan on Kia Georgia’s production line.

Sean Yoon, president and CEO for Kia North America, introduced the new Kia Sportage Tuesday during a news conference. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and James Watson, Kia Georgia’s vice president of production, then drove the Sportage off the assembly line.

“It was an honor to be here today for this milestone achievement by the Kia Georgia team,” Gov. Brian Kemp said. “The Sportage is yet another great product built in Georgia, and its launch here in West Point is a proud moment for our state. I congratulate all of the great Kia Georgia team members for their continued commitment to quality and growth, and thank them for bringing more opportunity to the No. 1 state for business.”

The new model debuts with near-luxury features, including available dual panoramic curved 12.3-inch display screens and advanced driver assistance functions. It's also 7.1 inches longer than the 2022 model.

Kia has been producing vehicles for more than 12 years in Georgia. It is the first manufacturing site in North America for Kia Corporation, which is based in Seoul, Korea.