(May 10, 2010) Some production of the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV may be shifted from Hyundai's Birmingham, Ala., plant to the new Kia plant in West Point, Ga., Automotive News reports today.

Hyundai said it is near capacity at its Alabama plant, which also builds the Sonata mid-sized sedan, and needs to find additional capacity for the popular Santa Fe.

If the plan is approved in South Korea, it will be the first time a Hyundai vehicle will be assembled in a Kia plant.

The Kia Sorento SUV is built at the West Point plant and shares some components with the Samta Fe. Kia and Hyundai remain competitors despite being owned by the Hyundai Group.