Kia Motors Slovakia manufactured a record 612,900 engines and 339,500 passenger vehicles in 2016, representing year-on-year increases of +5% and 0.4% respectively. More than half of all engines produced were exported to HMMC (Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech in the Czech Republic), with Kia’s 1.7-litre diesel engine accounting for 24% of all engines manufactured in Žilina – the single-most built engine. Passenger cars built at the manufacturing plant were delivered to customers from 95 countries around the world.
Eek-Hee Lee, President and CEO of Kia Motors Slovakia, commented: “We are going to invest an additional 130 million EUR in Slovakia this year, adjusting production lines in preparation for new model production. I believe that our cars will continue to be the number one choice for our customers thanks to their proven quality – the facility here in Žilina was even awarded a National Quality Award by the Slovak Republic in 2016.”
16% of all Kia models manufactured in Slovakia in 2016 were exported to the UK, with Germany and Russia taking joint second place for volumes, each accounting for 9% of production. Israel recorded the biggest leap, with a 6% share of all exports. 64% of the facility’s overall output was Kia’s best-selling Sportage crossover, with the Kia cee’d model family – incorporating five-door hatchback and Sportswagon, and three-door pro_cee’d – accounting for 28% of production. The Kia Venga compact MPV completes the range of models built at the plant.
Kia European manufacturing facility continues to reduce its long-term impact on the environment. Electric energy efficiency in the main plant has improved by 17 percent year-on-year due to the ongoing implementation of innovative energy-saving features. Consumption of natural gas has also been reduced, helping bring down the level of CO2 emissions produced during the manufacturing process by 13 percent in the same period. Kia has further improved the quality of the local environment by planting 1,258 trees around the facility.
