THE PRESIDENT of Kia Motors Slovakia, In-Kyu Bae, announced on December 7 that his company planned to double its originally forecast engine production in Slovakia from 300,000 to 600,000 units per year, the Sme daily reported.
"We will start building a new plant for producing engines in Žilina in the first half of 2007. Production should begin at the end of 2008," In-Kyu Bae said.
According to the Slovak Association of Automobile Engineers and Technicians, in January 2007 Slovakia will become the world leader in per-capita auto production with around 100 cars per 1,000 citizens. It will overtake Slovenia, which currently produces 80 cars per thousand citizens.
Kia's new auto plant near Žilina began full production on December 7.
