The Kia EV9 2024 Kia announced Wednesday at the 2023 New York Auto Show that the electric SUV will be manufactured at its West Point, Georgia plant starting in calendar year 2024.
The boost will come after the EV9 goes on sale in the US in Q4 of this year, with initial units likely to be sourced from South Korea. The full US launch time and pricing will be revealed at a later date.
Kia EV9 2024
First appearing as a concept at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, the three-row EV9 is the largest model to date built on the E-GMP platform shared by Hyundai, Kia and Genesis. This is the second Kia model to use the E-GMP platform after the EV6 and will be Kia’s first electric vehicle assembled in the US.
Kia revealed the design of the EV9, which is almost identical to the concept version last month, with other details on specifications, range and charging later in the month. Highlights include speed 800 volt charging with future V2G capabilities (vehicle-to-grid), the Level 3 Freeway Pilot system, as well as swivel seats in the second row. However, those people may not come to the US.
Kia EV9 2024
U.S. assembly would make the EV9 eligible for at least half of a potential $7,500 tax credit for EVs under new rules enacted as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). While testing a box, Kia will also need to meet battery assembly and material sourcing requirements to get full quantities.
Reports have also suggested that Kia could get some products from Hyundai’s so-called Metaplant in Savannah, Georgia. But with this, that possibility might be a little less. Kia’s West Point plant is well established, having assembled more than 3.8 million vehicles since 2009, according to the automaker.
