Kia has started production of its Ceed Sporty Wagon variant at its new Zilina plant in Slovakia a month ahead of schedule.
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More than 1,000 wagons were to be manufactured this week, with the very first example, finished in black, destined for an Italian customer and the majority of this initial batch being distributed to the Kia dealer network in Europe´s top five markets – Germany, Spain, the UK, France and Italy.
During the first half of 2007, Zilina manufactured over 63,000 Ceed five-door hatchbacks – achieving record daily record output in April with 830 units completed in a single day, and a monthly record in May when 14,000 cars were dispatched.
Kia´s Slovakia manufacturing facility, which also produces diesel engines, is the company´s first assembly plant in Europe and an investment of EUR1bn. Currently, the plant directly employs 2,400 people working a two shifts.
The 4.5-m long wagon is 235mm longer than the hatchback with luggage capacity of 534 litres – almost 200 litres more than the hatch.
A three-door hatchback will be built from December with first deliveries during the first quarter of 2008.
