Kia said it has completed the Hwaseong EVO Plant East and begun construction of the EVO Plant West, establishing Hyundai Motor Group’s first dedicated Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) production hub in South Korea. Combined, the two facilities are designed to support annual output of 250,000 PBVs.
The company said the new EVO plants integrate advanced automation and low-carbon systems, including AGV-based logistics, dry-booth paint processes and smart-factory technologies branded under Hyundai Motor and Kia’s E-FOREST initiative. Production lines will mix conveyor and cell-based manufacturing, enabling simultaneous assembly of multiple electric vehicle body types.
EVO Plant East, now commissioned, will build 100,000 units of the PV5 each year. EVO Plant West, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2027, will add a further 150,000 units, including larger PBV models such as the PV7. According to Kia, total investment in the 296,882-square-metre complex will reach around 4 trillion won (about 2.4 billion euros) once completed.
As part of the expansion, Kia also announced a PBV Conversion Centre that will work with strategic partners to develop specialised variants based on the PV5. Planned applications include open-bed trucks, box vans and camping vehicles, with future conversions for the PV7 and other PBV models. Kia said the new centre will “foster a collaborative PBV ecosystem” and serve as a strategic base for its global PBV business.
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“We will usher in a new era of innovation in future mobility together with the automotive industry, embracing new challenges including electrification, autonomous driving, and AI,” said Min-seok Kim, who attended the completion ceremony.
“Kia is leveraging the electrification of light commercial vehicles as a key opportunity to position PBVs as a core future business,” added Ho Sung Song, Kia President and Global CEO. “As we continue our journey toward sustainable future mobility, Kia remains committed to becoming a trusted partner in building a better future for Korea — and for humanity as a whole.”
Kia initially announced its Hwaseong PBV production plan in 2022 and said it remains on schedule, with the first phase set for completion by the end of 2025. Earlier this year, Hyundai Motor Group also opened its Metaplant America facility in Georgia, which has a 300,000-unit capacity for EVs and hybrid models.
