Kia in America: from the Sephia to the Georgia-built Telluride and EV9

Kia in the US (1992–present) history

Kia Motors America was incorporated in California in 1992, and the first Kia-branded car in the US, the Sephia, went on sale at four dealers in Portland, Oregon. EPA lists the Sephia, with a 1.6L four, for the 1993 and 1994 model years, and adds the Sportage SUV for 1995. The earliest Kia recall in NHTSA's dataset was received on July 25, 1994.

Hyundai Motor Company acquired Kia Motors in December 1998. Kia remains a separate brand within Hyundai Motor Group, sharing engines, plants and research with Hyundai.

Kia broke ground in West Point, Georgia, in October 2006 and started production in November 2009. The plant added the Telluride in 2019, began EV9 production in June 2025, launched the all-new Telluride in January 2026 and passed five million vehicles in February 2026.[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[9],[11],[12]

Years and production numbers

Generations and key variants

Engine and drivetrain facts

• EPA lists the 1993–1994 Sephia with a 1.6L four-cylinder and a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
• The first-generation Telluride used a 3.8L V6 with an 8-speed automatic; the 2027 Telluride uses a 2.5L turbo four (274 hp on kia.com) or a hybrid (329 hp combined).
• Hyundai's Alabama plant builds Smartstream engines that are also used in vehicles made at Kia Georgia.

Sources:[2],[7],[22],[23],[24],[25]

What changed over the years

1. 1992Kia Motors America incorporated in California.
2. 1993–1994Sephia on sale in the US.
3. 1995 model yearSportage added.
4. December 1998Hyundai Motor Company acquires Kia Motors.
5. November 2009Kia Georgia starts production.
6. 2020 model yearTelluride launches.
7. March 2021New logo; K5 replaces Optima for 2021.
8. 2022 model yearEV6 arrives; Carnival replaces Sedona.
9. 2024 model yearEV9 arrives.
10. 2025 model yearK4 replaces Forte.
11. 2027 model yearAll-new Telluride with 2.5L turbo and hybrid.

Sources:[1],[3],[6],[11],[12],[14],[15],[16],[18],[19],[21]

What to check before you buy one

• EPA lists no 2026 Telluride: the first generation ends with 2025 and the redesign starts with 2027, so confirm the model year and engine (3.8L V6 or 2.5L turbo) on any late Telluride.
• A used K5 is the successor to the Optima, and a Carnival to the Sedona; search both names when comparing prices or recalls.
• Run any used Kia's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying to confirm open recalls are done.

Model-specific problems by generation are tracked on our Kia Telluride known issues page. Engine guides: Theta II (2.4L and 2.0T) engine guide, Lambda V6 (3.3, 3.5, 3.8L) engine guide, E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) engine guide.

Kia in the US (1992–present) prices and values

Mileage: across 12,621 used Kia Telluride listings in our November 2026 study (all model years), the median odometer reading was 51,132 miles and 0% showed 200,000 miles or more. See how long a Kia Telluride lasts.

How to verify a Kia in the US (1992–present)'s factory options

A Kia's model, engine and drivetrain are fixed at the factory. CarWhere decodes the 17-character VIN and, where licensed factory build data exists, lists the equipment the car was built with. It does not promise a complete option list for every VIN.