Slovakia is home to three major carmakers. (source: Courtesy of Kia)
Kia Motors Slovakia manufactured 177,900 vehicles in the first half of 2016, which represents a 4.7- percent hike year-on-year compared to the first half of 2015, Kia Motors Slovakia spokesman Jozef Bačé told the TASR newswire on July 28.
Additionally, engine production rose by 11 percent and by the end of June 2016 reached more than 318,000 unit. Kia cars produced in Slovakia covered 59 percent of all sales of Kia models in Europe in the first half of 2016, said Bačé.
“I’m very pleased that the production at Kia Motors Slovakia continues to grow,” said Kia Motors Slovakia President and CEO Eek-Hee Lee, as quoted by the TASR newswire. “Cars manufactured in our plant with their quality, design and safety meet the demanding requirements of today’s marketplace.”
Kia certainly owe its success to the new generation of the Sportage model that - apart from prestigious design awards - is gaining great popularity among customers, Lee added, praising the work of his employees.
The fourth generation of Sportage is currently the most manufactured vehicle in the Kia Motors Slovakia plant, as it represents 64 percent of the total volume of vehicles produced there.
Kia Motors Slovakia is the first production plant of Kia Motors Corporation in Europe. It was built between 2004-2006 and the production of vehicles and engines was launched in December 2006. The plant currently employs around 3,800 people in Slovakia, not to mention its myriad suppliers and sub-suppliers.
The most important markets for the only Kia plant in Europe have been the United Kingdom (15 percent), Germany (9 percent), Spain (8 percent), Italy (8 percent) and Russia (7 percent).
