Says something about the starting point, but still
What about disappointing demand? Kia is said to be planning to triple EV production in Europe over the next two years, mainly thanks to the arrival of two important new models.
Kia apparently found some more salt to rub in the wounds of European competitors. We wrote about them yesterday that production capacity in Europe must and will decrease significantly, but according to ‘Automotive News’, Kia is now announcing a substantial upgrade of European EV production.
Kia EV4 production in Slovakia
It all revolves around Kia’s European factory in Zilina, Slovakia. The EV4 hatchback recently started rolling off the production line there, and Kia reportedly wants to increase production of that car there to 80,000 units per year by 2027. Zilina would then account for the vast majority of globally produced EV4s. However, that’s not all, because the small and already announced Kia EV2 is also supposed to be produced in Slovakia. This more compact and cheaper electric Kia is even expected to roll out of the factory from 2027 at a rate of 100,000 units per year, making an even larger portion of the production in this factory electric.
That Kia can speak of a tripling of European EV production obviously also says everything about the starting point. The EV4 is the first electric Kia to be built in Europe, so the brand has only just begun in this area. Still, Kia’s ambitions also show that it has a lot of confidence in its electric future, not least thanks to these new and promising models from the already very successful South Korean brand.