Kia's Second Andhra Pradesh Plant Could Bring About 12,000 Jobs as Production Starts in Early 2030

Kia and its suppliers plan to invest about $2 billion to set up a second manufacturing plant in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, with production expected to begin in early 2030. The project is expected to create around 12,000 direct and indirect jobs, and the company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Andhra Pradesh government to build it in Anantapur. That figure is a projection of direct and indirect jobs, not open vacancies. For Metaintro readers in Andhra Pradesh and across India's car industry, this guide covers what the 12,000 figure counts, what the new plant will do, what Kia India's careers portal is advertising now, and how to apply safely.

What Did Kia Announce for Andhra Pradesh?

The news came from Kia India Managing Director and CEO Gwanggu Lee at the 31st CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on November 12, 2026. Kia signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government for the plant.

The MoU is a plan. In his summit remarks, Lee did not specify any timeline for the investment itself, and the production target comes from the automaker's own statement. The investment will be made jointly by Kia and its supplier partners, so the money comes from several firms, not Kia alone.

The second plant will also be located in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, where Kia already operates its existing Indian manufacturing plant. The proposed facility and its supplier operations will cover a combined 465 acres.

The deal was expected before the summit began. A dedicated agreement with Kia was on the summit's two-day schedule, and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was due to hold talks with Gwanggu Lee, MD and CEO of Kia India, along with other business leaders.

What Do the 12,000 Jobs Actually Count?

The figure covers both direct and indirect work. The project is expected to generate around 12,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh, which means the count reaches beyond the people on Kia's own payroll. The investment is also expected to further strengthen the supply chain in the region and support ancillary industries, including auto components, logistics and skilled manpower development.

Kia has not published a split between direct factory roles and indirect roles, and no hiring schedule has been given.

When Will the Second Plant Start Production?

The target date is early 2030, when production is expected to begin.

Kia has not said when recruitment for the new site will start. The early 2030 date is the point at which the second plant's planned start of production is due, not a date by which every projected role will exist.

India is central to Kia’s long-term growth ambitions, and the trust our customers have placed in us since we began operations in Anantapur has been instrumental in our journey, Kia India Managing Director and CEO Gwanggu Lee said, according to the GaadiWaadi report.

What Work Will the New Plant Do, and What Will It Build?

The plant will be a full car factory, not just an assembly hall. It will carry out stamping, welding, painting and assembly, the same four manufacturing processes handled at Kia’s existing Anantapur facility.

The new site will build both combustion-engine and electric cars. It will manufacture models powered by internal combustion engines and electric motors, and the company has not yet revealed which specific models will be allocated to the new factory.

The capacity numbers are clearer. The new facility will add 200,000 vehicles to Kia India's annual production capacity of 430,000 units, taking the total to 630,000 vehicles. That addition is an increase of around 47% on the current plant capacity, Rushlane calculated.

Lee called the second plant a significant new chapter, strengthening our ability to respond to customer demand with greater speed and flexibility, and said it would support the introduction of new models across ICE and EV powertrains.

Output will go to more than one market. The second plant will provide additional manufacturing capacity for vehicles intended for domestic sales and overseas shipments. Kia already uses its current plant as an export base, shipping to nearly 100 countries.

How Big Is Kia's Existing Anantapur Operation?

The first plant gives a sense of scale, but its figures belong to that site only. In April 2017, Kia India signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the State Government of Andhra Pradesh to build that plant in Anantapur District, and it commenced mass production in August 2019.

The existing complex covers 945 acres, including supplier operations, and supports 24,237 direct and indirect jobs, according to Kia. It was built with an initial investment of USD 2.9 billion from Kia and its suppliers.

Combined investment across the two Indian facilities, including supplier investments, will reach about $5 billion. The two complexes and their supplier facilities will occupy a combined 1,410 acres.

The current plant produces the Seltos, Sonet, Syros, Carens, Carens Clavis, Carnival and Sorento, and its mix already includes the Syros EV and Carens Clavis EV, CNG versions of the Carens and Carens Clavis, and the Sorento Hybrid. In the financial year 2026, the company exported 27,953 units.

Kia recorded its highest-ever monthly wholesale figure in October 2026, dispatching 33,462 vehicles, which was a 13.2% year-on-year increase.

What Jobs Is Kia India Advertising Right Now?

The new plant is years away, but Kia India's current openings page shows 65 openings in Penukonda, Andhra Pradesh, alongside Gurugram, Bengaluru and Mumbai.

Five Penukonda listings shown on Kia India's current openings page include these.

• A Penukonda role asking for 3 - 8 years of experience lists skills in Logical Approach Problem Solving PromptResponse Logistics Management.
• A role at KIA India Private Limited, Penukonda, Andhra Pradesh asks for 3 - 5 years and lists Good Knowledge in Automobile Process Good English Communication Coordination skills.
• A Penukonda listing asks for 5 - 9 years and mentions enterprise-wide cybersecurity initiatives and security projects.ISO27001.
• A Penukonda listing asks for 2 - 4 years with SOX Audit Ifc Audit Financial Risk Management skills.
• A listing at KIA, Penukonda, Penukonda, Andhra Pradesh asks for 3 - 9 years and lists Expatriate Management Visa Processing FRRO.

The wider company is large. On Kia India's current careers page, Kia Corporation employs 52,000+ people worldwide and operates in over 190 markets. It sells approximately 3 million vehicles annually through its manufacturing facilities in six countries.

How Does Kia India Hire, and How Can You Spot a Fake Offer?

Kia India publishes its hiring steps on its apply page. The process starts with an online application form, then a brief screening of applicant's profile to check if it matches our hiring requirement, then an interview where you also get to meet your manager, people, and the organization.

After the interview comes the document collection stage, when resumes are reviewed and all documents related to previous professional qualifications are collected to determine which applicants fit the role, and then the final stage of Decision & Offer. Keep your qualification documents ready.

Kia India also warns job seekers about recruitment scams directly. Kia India has recently become aware of fraudulent emails being circulated, falsely claiming to be from its HR department, which typically ask recipients to deposit a certain amount as a refundable interview security into a designated bank account.

Kia India does not, under any circumstances, request or require payment of any kind (including interview security deposits or processing fees) from candidates at any stage of the recruitment process. Its genuine messages will always address candidates by their full name, and a generic greeting such as Dear Candidate is, in the company's words, indicative of fraudulent communications. If a message looks doubtful, the official email to check with is careers@kiaindia.net.

I am so delighted to announce the expansion of Kia's presence in Andhra Pradesh through the establishment of an additional manufacturing plant, Kia India Managing Director and CEO Gwanggu Lee said at the CII Partnership Summit, according to the ETV Bharat report.

What Are Suppliers Adding in Anantapur?

Suppliers have also signed up nearby. Earlier in November, three firms, Hwashin, Seoyon and Iwamet, signed agreements with the Andhra Pradesh government to establish manufacturing facilities in Anantapur district, Telangana Today reported, citing other reports.

Together, the projects are expected to create about 1,418 employment opportunities. The three are auto component firms supplying to South Korean majors Hyundai and Kia. Those commitments followed a visit by Andhra Pradesh Minister for IT, Electronics and Human Resource Development Nara Lokesh to South Korea in July, where he held discussions with companies linked to Hyundai and Kia's global supply chain.

These supplier projects are separate from the second plant MoU, and they should not be added to the new plant's jobs figure. They do show that parts makers have also committed to new facilities in Anantapur district, and Kia works with both Indian and South Korean auto-component suppliers.

Why Are Carmakers Expanding in India Now?

Kia is not alone. Global automakers are ramping up investments in India, the world's third-largest car market, to tap rising demand and expand local manufacturing capacity, and Suzuki Motor set out a plan in 2025 to invest about $8 billion in the country over five to six years. Toyota and Honda have also committed to expanding their manufacturing ambitions in India. Related moves include a planned staff increase at Stellantis's Thiruvallur car plant and Apple's growing iPhone production in India.

A bigger group plan runs alongside this one. The expansion follows Hyundai Motor Group’s October announcement of a USD 15.5 billion India investment programme, which runs from 2026 to 2032 and covers manufacturing, research and development, and supplier localisation.

Kia's product plans also point to more electrified models. Its previously announced India roadmap targets a 7.6% market share by 2030 and calls for eight electrified models, including hybrids and battery EVs, by the end of the decade. On that roadmap, the Seltos Hybrid is expected in 2027, with hybrid versions of the Sonet and Carens planned by 2029. Kia has also outlined plans for another locally produced small electric SUV by 2029, and those product timelines precede the second plant's planned start of production.

Andhra Pradesh is using the event to attract global investments. The summit, scheduled for November 12 and 13 in Visakhapatnam, had 141 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and 30 Government Orders lined up for exchange. It is organised by the State government in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at the AU Engineering Grounds, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah was due to attend the inaugural session as chief guest. The agenda spans artificial intelligence, satellite technologies, ports, shipbuilding, energy, aviation, defence, food systems and infrastructure. The 2025 summit, attracted more than 3,000 delegates from 62 countries.

What This Means for Job Seekers, and What Should You Do Next?

The honest reading is that this is a long runway, not an instant hiring drive. The new plant's jobs figure is tied to a plant that is planned to begin production in early 2030. That gives students and early-career workers in Andhra Pradesh time to train for the exact work the plant will do.

• Train for the four shop stages. The plant will run stamping, welding, painting and assembly, so welding, painting and vehicle assembly skills match those stages directly.
• Add electric vehicle skills. The new plant will build models powered by internal combustion engines and electric motors, so battery and electrical skills match part of the planned output.
• Look at suppliers, not just Kia. Parts makers such as Hwashin, Seoyon and Iwamet have signed agreements to set up facilities in Anantapur district.
• Watch the existing site now. Experienced workers can check Kia India's careers portal, where Penukonda listings on Kia India's current openings page mention logistics, cybersecurity, audit and automobile process skills.
• Never pay to apply. Kia India does not, under any circumstances, request or require payment of any kind from candidates.

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People Also Asked

Q: How many jobs will Kia's second Andhra Pradesh plant create?

A: The project is expected to create around 12,000 direct and indirect jobs, a projection rather than open roles.

Q: When will Kia's new Anantapur plant start production?

A: Production is expected to begin in early 2030, and no date for hiring at the new site has been given yet.

Q: Where can I apply for Kia India jobs?

A: Openings are posted on Kia India's careers portal, and Kia India does not request payment of any kind, including interview security deposits or processing fees.

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