Kia Motors Extends Shutdown... Sohari Plant Closed Until 18th, Part of Gwangju Until 19th

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Kia Motors is extending its temporary shutdown due to unstable parts supply caused by the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

The production at the Chinese factory manufacturing wiring harnesses, which are bundles of wires used in vehicles, has not met expectations, leading to unstable parts supply.

On the 14th, Kia announced that it will further extend the temporary shutdown of its Sohari plant in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, until the 18th.

The Sohari plant produces vehicles such as the Carnival, Stinger, K9, and Stonic.

Kia had previously extended the Sohari plant shutdown period from the 10th?11th to the 14th due to a shortage of wiring harness inventory, and on this day, it extended it again to the 18th.

The date for resuming operations at the Sohari plant will be decided again after the 18th.

The shutdown schedule for the Bongo and truck lines at Kia’s Gwangju Plant 3, which began shutdown on the 10th, will also be extended from the original date until the 19th.

Gwangju Plants 1 and 3 (large bus lines) were closed until the 11th and resumed normal operations from the 12th, while Gwangju Plant 2, which produces the Sportage and Soul, was closed until the previous day and reopened on this day.

The Seltos and Soul lines at Gwangju Plant 1 and the large bus line at Plant 3 resumed production on the 12th, and the Sportage and Soul lines at Gwangju Plant 2 resumed production from this day.

As for Kia’s Hwaseong plant, it began normal operations on the 11th as originally scheduled, producing K-series vehicles such as the K3, K5, and K7, as well as Niro, Sorento, and Mohave models.

A Hyundai-Kia official stated, "Although the Chinese parts factory of our partner company started production after a trial operation, the production volume is insufficient, so we decided to extend the additional shutdown."