by New details about Kia Sportage Hybrid production in the US
Producing cars where they are sold has become a smart strategy in an era of changing tariffs, and Kia is actively using it. The brand has been producing gasoline versions of the Sportage in the US for a long time. Now they are joined by the hybrid version, whose production has been moved to Hyundai’s Metaplant in Ellabell, Georgia. There, it will share production capacity with the fully electric Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9 models.
Availability and trims
Versions of the Sportage Hybrid assembled in the US will become available starting with the 2027 model year and will arrive at dealerships this summer. The Metaplant will be responsible for producing all available trims of the Sportage Hybrid, including LX, S, EX, X-Line, and SX-Prestige.
Overview: The 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid makes more expensive SUVs seem like a poor purchase decision
Change in plant strategy
The massive Hyundai Motor Group plant in Georgia was originally planned exclusively for the production of electric vehicles, specifically the Ioniq 5, as well as five other models from Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. However, the South Korean company quickly realized that demand for electric vehicles was insufficient to keep the plant busy with them alone, and confirmed that several hybrid models would also be produced there. The Sportage Hybrid became the first of these.
“This is a very significant event for Kia in the state of Georgia and for our customers across the US,” said Sean Yoon, president and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America. “The Metaplant in Savannah is our second major investment in Georgia, and it’s a clear testament to our confidence in the future of this state as an automotive capital. We have great confidence that the Metaplant will continue the powerful momentum that the Sportage Hybrid achieved after its update last year and will quickly become one of our best-selling models.”
Technical specifications
The 2027 Kia Sportage Hybrid is equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a lithium-ion polymer battery with a capacity of 1.49 kWh. Combined with the gasoline engine and a small electric motor, the total output is 232 hp and 271 lb-ft (367 Nm) of torque. Kia offers this model with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
This move by Kia is part of a broader trend in the automotive industry where manufacturers are adapting to changing market conditions and trade barriers. Shifting hybrid production to the US not only helps avoid potential tariffs but also allows the company to flexibly respond to demand, which still leans towards hybrid technology rather than fully electric. It also shows that even massive investments in electric vehicle infrastructure can be quickly repurposed to meet current market needs, making hybrids an important bridge between traditional internal combustion engines and the future of electric vehicles.
