Kia Corp., part of Hyundai Motor Group, has commenced mass production of electric vehicles at its first dedicated EV plant in South Korea. The automaker is positioning itself to recover from the ongoing global slowdown in the electric vehicle (EV) market, with hopes of leading innovation in the sector. The newly completed facility, known as the EVO Plant, is located in Gwangmyeong near Seoul and boasts an annual production capacity of 150,000 units.
At the plant’s completion ceremony, Kia’s executive vice president Choi Jun Young emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainable mobility, stating, “To provide sustainable mobility solutions, we will lead innovation in the EV market and fulfill our responsibilities to help deliver a sustainable future.”
The EVO Plant has already begun producing Kia’s low-cost compact electric SUV, the EV3, since June during a test run. The electric compact sedan EV4 is expected to enter production in the first half of 2025. Kia has invested 401.6 billion won ($304.6 million) to transform the facility into a hub for affordable electric vehicles, amid a prolonged downturn in global demand for EVs.
Despite the industry’s challenges, Kia remains optimistic about the potential of its new models. “The EV3 and the EV4 will play an important role in the global electric vehicle uptake,” a Kia official said. The automaker sees the EVO Plant as a key player in achieving this goal, underscoring their belief that the plant will “make history.”
In addition to Kia’s efforts, Hyundai Motor Co. is also expanding its EV production capacity. Hyundai is constructing a dedicated EV factory in Ulsan, which will have the capacity to produce 200,000 units annually when it begins operations in the first quarter of 2026.
Source: kedglobal.com
