- Kia has began manufacturing fully-electric vehicles within Europe for the first time, in what is seen as a big win for the region.
- The new fully-electric EV4 hatchback variant, designed specifically for Europe, is now being built at Kia AutoLand in Slovakia, which has already been producing ICE Kias since 2004.
- EV production at the plant comes following a previous €108 million investment, helping to make the assembly line EV-ready.
Kia’s EV4 begins production in Europe
With production having started this week, mass production of the EV4 is underway. With prices for the hatchback variant starting at £34,695 (in the UK), the EV4 will be a key rival for existing models such as the Volkswagen ID.3 and Renault Megane E-Tech. A saloon variant that can take on cars such as the Tesla Model 3 has also launched, but this version will instead be built at one of Kia’s South Korean facilities.
Aside from European brands such as Peugeot, Volkswagen, and Renault who already produce many of their electric models within the region, Kia joins a growing list of non-European car brands that are basing at least some of their EV production within Europe. South Korean sibling Hyundai already produces the KONA Electric at its Czech factory, whilst Tesla also produces many of its Model Y EVs at its Giga Berlin site in Germany. Chinese giant BYD is also eyeing up European EV production, with a planned Hungary EV facility on the horizon.
Marc Hedrich, President and CEO of Kia Europe, commented:
“The start of EV4 production is a huge milestone for us. It demonstrates the technical capability and flexibility of our European operations. From 20 August, Slovakia will build fully electric cars alongside models with hybrid and internal combustion powertrains. Through the expansion of our production capabilities, we are supporting our diverse European customer base even more.”
