Kookhyun Shim has been appointed as the managing director and chief executive officer of Kia Motors India and will be directing the company’s expansion in the country. He will also oversee the construction of the company’s first manufacturing facility in India. Kia will be investing US$ 1.1 billion for its future development in the Indian market.

Prior to this, Shim recently served as head of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia Plant Coordination Group, and before that Prior to this, he was responsible for the head coordinator of Kia production in Slovakia. He has over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry.

“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Kookhyun Shim as MD and CEO for India,” commented Han-Woo Park, President at Kia Motors Corporation. “We recognise India as a major market with huge potential for our world-class cars. We are confident that Shim’s leadership will provide the direction we need to grow our presence in what is one of the world’s biggest new car markets.”

“Kia has big plans for India,” said Kookhyun Shim, new MD and CEO of Kia Motors India. “The Indian economy is at an inflection point, and I am excited to work in an emerging market that’s forecasted to become the third largest globally by 2021. India is a crucial market for all global automotive brands, and I aim to replicate the success that Kia has seen in many other major markets.”

In April 2017 Kia Motors signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the state government of Andhra Pradesh to build a new manufacturing facility in Anantapur district. The manufacturing facility is expected to begin production in the second half of 2019 and produce approximately 3,00,000 units per annum.