Kia has commenced the production of its first entirely electric vehicle (EV) designed for the European market, the EV4 hatchback, at the brand’s manufacturing hub in Slovakia.
Located in Zilina, the facility, known as Kia AutoLand Slovakia, has undergone substantial upgrades to its production lines to accommodate the manufacturing of the vehicle.
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Kia says it has invested €108m to modernise the Zilina plant with new technologies, including an EV battery conveyor system.
The EV4 is built on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) of Hyundai Motor.
Customers can choose between two battery sizes: a standard 58.3kWh and a larger 81.4kWh option.
In February 2025, the company presented the exterior design of the new EV4 model range, unveiling saloon and hatchback variants.
EV4 is equipped with energy features, including vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities.
Additionally, it features a lightweight aluminium bonnet and comes in a range of eight exterior colours, with a matte finish.
The Zilina plant, which opened its doors in 2004, is a pivotal part of Kia’s European strategy. Spanning 2km2, the facility employs approximately 3,700 individuals and is ideally situated to serve major European markets.
Alongside the EV4, the plant manufactures other models like the Kia Sportage and Kia XCeed, including their hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.
The Zilina facility is said to have an annual production capacity of 350,000 vehicles and 540,000 engines.
Since its inception, the plant has produced over five million units, contributing to roughly 11% of Kia’s worldwide vehicle production, the company noted in a press release.
The South Korean automaker has reported a 6.5% increase in revenues to a record Won29.35tn in Q2 of 2025, attributed to robust global demand for its hybrid models, increased average selling prices, and favourable currency exchange rates.
