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Kia Motors India (KMI) has announced the appointment of Kookhyun Shim as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer responsible for driving Kia Motors’ expansion in the Indian market. Shim will oversee the construction of Kia Motor’s first manufacturing facility in India and strengthen the company’s position in the fifth largest global automotive market.
Kia’s future development in the Indian market will be supported by a $1.1-billion investment plan for a greenfield manufacturing unit in Andhra Pradesh. Shim, 58, brings over 30 years’ experience in the automotive industry to his new role, having most recently served as Head of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia Plant Coordination Group. Prior to this, he was responsible for the head coordinator of Kia production in Slovakia.
“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Kookhyun Shim as MD & CEO for India,” said Han-Woo Park, President at Kia Motors Corporation. “We recognise India as a major market with huge potential for our world-class cars. We are confident that Shim’s leadership will provide the direction we need to grow our presence in what is one of the world’s biggest new car markets,” he said.
“Kia has big plans for India,”said Kookhyun Shim. “The Indian economy is at an inflection point, and I am excited to work in an emerging market that’s forecasted to become the third largest globally by 2021. India is a crucial market for all global automotive brands, and I aim to replicate the success that Kia has seen in many other major markets. Kia’s brand slogan, ‘The Power to Surprise’, will be present in everything we do here.”
In April 2017 Kia Motors signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Andhra Pradesh to build a new manufacturing facility in Anantapur district. The ground-breaking ceremony of Kia Motors’ first manufacturing facility in India is under consideration to commence in the first quarter of 2018. The manufacturing facility is expected to begin production in the second half of 2019 and produce approximately 300,000 units per year.
Founded in 1944, Kia Motors Corporation, with revenues of over $45 billion, produces over 3 million vehicles a year from 14 manufacturing and assembly operations in five countries.
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