- Kia America found a clever way to protect newly assembled vehicles from hail.
- The hail protection system that’s being installed at its factory in Georgia integrates solar panels.
- The 17,000 solar panels will provide up to 30% of the power needed for the entire car plant.
Kia’s giant factory in Georgia is getting a huge hail protection canopy that will double as a solar plant.
The 3.2 million square feet roof will do its best to prevent the sort of damage that caused millions of dollars worth of headaches for Kia in 2023, when 13,000 cars were hit by hail. “It caused us to think differently about how we store and better yet protect our finished products,” Kia Georgia CEO Stuart Countess told Automotive News.
The system, designed by Vehicle Protection Structures (VPS), integrates no fewer than 17,000 solar panels that can deliver up to 13 megawatts of power. That’s enough to cover 20% to 30% of the factory’s needs, which adds to the company’s green credentials.
This goes hand in hand with Kia’s global goal to cut its carbon emissions by 97% by 2045 compared to 2019. The automaker is starting to transition to using 100% renewable energy to power its manufacturing sites.
Although Kia didn’t disclose how much the system will cost, a spokesperson told Automotive News that it will allow the company to be eligible for investment tax credits for sustainable infrastructure under the Inflation Reduction Act.
"VPS hail protection systems are already considered the industry standard for weather protection of large areas of risk, and the integration of solar electricity generation helps manufacturers meet sustainability targets, reduce utility charges, and qualify for available tax credits,” Wade White, executive vice president of Vehicle Protection Structures, told Newsweek last month.
“Kia Georgia not only believes in building sustainable products but also incorporating sustainable solutions that protect and promote efficiency and quality," he added.
The hail protection system is about halfway built, with the company saying it would be completed by the end of the year, while the solar panel integration is scheduled for completion by early next year.
Kia’s factory in Georgia builds the EV6 and EV9 electric vehicles, as well as the combustion-powered Sorento, Sportage and Telluride crossovers.
