KCSM-served Kia plant opens in Mexico

Kia Motors on Wednesday officially opened a new manufacturing plant in Mexico that will be served by Kansas City Southern de Mexico S.A. de C.V.

Located in Pesqueria in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, the plant is Kia's sixth overseas production base and represents a $3 billion investment by Kia and suppliers, according to a Kia Motors press release.

The plant will have an annual production capacity of 400,000 units, which will increase the company's global manufacturing capacity to 3.56 million vehicles. Production began in May, with the plant serving as the production base for the C-segment Kia Forte. Starting in 2017, the plant will produce the new fourth generation B-segment Rio.

Kia officials anticipate the plant will be operating at full capacity by the end of 2018.