WEST POINT, Ga. (AP) - An auto supply firm is opening a plant in west Georgia that's expected to create 350 manufacturing jobs, Gov. Nathan Deal announced.
The planned Hyundai Dymos plant in West Point will supply Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Deal said in a statement today.
Deal said Kia's massive auto plant in West Point has been "a magnet" for automotive suppliers such as Hyundai Dymos.
The governor said the Hyundai Dymos plant is expected to be completed by July. He said the company will begin hiring in January and will begin normal production in November 2014.
"We chose West Point because of the proximity to our customer base, but also because of the extraordinary support and interest by the local communities," said Jun Mo Yoon, representative director of Hyundai Dymos. "The City of West Point and Troup County worked very closely with us to resolve any startup issues. They truly are committed to building a business-friendly environment, and we feel that we have become good partners."
Hyundai Dymos manufactures manual transmissions, axles and seats for automobiles. Its West Point plant will manufacture seats for the new Kia Sorento.
"Hyundai Dymos is one of numerous Korean companies to settle in Georgia, which highlights Korea's confidence in our business environment and the importance of building international relationships," Chris Cummiskey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said in a statement.
"Projects like this don't happen without the trust built through relationships - whether they're international relationships or community ones," Cummiskey added.