News: Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center Inc. celebrates opening of new R&D headquarters

News 

CONTACT: Michael Choo (  mjc@kia.co.kr),
International Communications Manager, Kia Motors Corporation, Tel: +82-2-
3464-6574, Fax: +82-2-3464-6845

Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center Inc. celebrates opening of new R&D
headquarters 

- New 200,000 square-foot facility to employ 400 workers by 2007 

(SEOUL) October 14, 2005 -- Kim Sang-Kwon, vice chairman of research and
development with Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, and Michigan Governor
Jennifer Granholm gathered with elected officials, guests and media in
Superior Township, Michigan today to celebrate the grand opening of the new
Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI) headquarters.

The new 200,000-square-foot expandable facility is located near the
intersection of Geddes and Leforge roads, just outside of Ann Arbor. The
tech center will support the development of current and new Hyundai and Kia
products for the U.S. market, in areas such as research and analysis,
design, emissions, durability testing and regulatory certification.

Since the facility¡¯s groundbreaking in April 2004, the technical center
has employed 100 new workers, bolstering the total on-site workforce to
approximately 140 people.  By the end of 2007, HATCI will employ
approximately 400 workers at the Michigan-based tech center and an
additional 150 people at HATCI facilities across the country. 

¡°Michigan, as the center of the automotive world, provides the excellent
infrastructure and automotive engineering talent pool that a growing
company like Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group needs to achieve our goal of
excellence,¡± said Vice Chairman Sang-Kwon Kim, speaking on behalf of
Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group Chairman Mong-Koo Chung.

Nearly three years ago, HATCI conducted a detailed search for a location of
its new facility, traveling to multiple sites in a couple of states.
Ultimately, corporate officials, due to the efforts of Governor Granholm
and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, determined that
southeastern Michigan provided the resources necessary for the company to
flourish. Governor Granholm applauds HATCI¡¯s decision.

¡°This new North American R&D headquarters is a welcome addition to
Michigan, further enhancing our standing as a high tech automotive research
leader,¡± Granholm said. ¡°I am thankful for the company¡¯s commitment to
our state, and especially for the impact this facility will have on the
hundreds of workers that will be employed here.¡±

 

Kia Motors Corporation (
<http://autoway.kia.co.kr/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.kiamotors.com
/> www.kiamotors.com) - one of the fastest growing automakers in the world -
- was founded in 1944 and is Korea¡¯s oldest manufacturer of motor
vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to become
one of the world¡¯s premier automotive brands. Kia¡¯s 16 manufacturing and
assembly operations in 12 countries produce more than 1.1 million vehicles
a year that are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and
dealers covering 155 countries. Kia today has over 32,000 employees and
annual revenues of $14 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian
Tennis Open and an official worldwide sponsor of the Davis Cup. Kia Motors
Corporation¡¯s brand slogan -- ¡°The Power to Surprise¡± -- represents the
company¡¯s global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through
continuous automotive innovation.

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