Production of the Kia EV9 has started in the United States. This means that the first Kia EV9 made in America has rolled off the assembly line in Georgia. This factory also makes other Kia vehicles like the Sportage, Sorento, and Telluride SUVs. Building the EV9 in the US has created 200 new jobs and cost $200 million.
The Kia EV9 is a popular electric SUV in the United States. Dealers were worried about sales because customers couldn’t get the $7,500 EV tax credit. But Kia found a way around this by offering attractive lease deals for the EV9. Now that the EV9 is made in the US, it should be eligible for part of the tax credit.
To get the full $7,500 tax credit, a car needs to have batteries made in the US or a country with a free trade agreement with the US. Kia plans to make batteries in Georgia in 2025. Then, the EV9 should qualify for the full tax credit by next year or early 2026.
Customers can buy the basic EV9 model for $47,400 even without the tax credit. Kia has sold many EV9s, even without the tax credit. Last month, they sold 1,572 EV9s, bringing the total to 5,579 for the year. The EV9’s starting price is over $50,000, but it has still boosted Kia’s electric car sales by 144% compared to last year. With the EV9 being made in the US now, Kia expects even more sales growth.
The EV9 used to be made only in South Korea. Making it in the US will reduce wait times for customers. SeungKyu Yoon, President and CEO of Kia America, said that this move shows Kia’s commitment to the US market and Georgia state. Kia plans to lead in electric cars in the coming years.
The EV9 lineup has many options, but there’s more to come. Kia plans to release a high-performance version called the EV9 GT. This version will have 600 horsepower and go from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds. Kia might also start making more electric cars in the US, like the EV3 crossover.
