Kia Motors, the world’s eighth largest automaker on Tuesday commenced trial production at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur.
This event also marks the arrival of Kia’s new flagship car for India, the Kia SP2i – a new SUV based on the Kia SP Concept, first showcased at India’s Auto Expo 2018.
The Kia SP2i will bring Kia’s 'exacting standards for quality' to the Indian market, as well as the 'brand’s reputation for cool, modern design and cutting-edge in-car technology', the company claims. Trial production of the SP2i will enable Kia to synchronize and fine-tune the brand’s manufacturing equipment and technologies before series production commences later in 2019.
Kia marked the start of trial operations with a launch ceremony at the Anantapur plant, in the presence of Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu and Shin Bongkil, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India. The ceremony was also attended by Han-Woo Park, President & CEO of Kia Motors Corporation, and Kookhyun Shim, Managing Director and CEO of Kia Motors India.
Kia also consolidated its Future Mobility Partnership with the government of Andhra Pradesh by handing over an example of the new Kia Soul EV (electric vehicle).
Commenting on the brand’s latest production milestone, Park said, “India will play a singularly important role in expanding Kia Motors’ global footprint, and today feels like the start of another chapter in our Indian success story. Commencing trial production is a significant moment that we have been preparing for as we take on the challenges of future mobility across the country.”