Kia Motors said the number of cars it built at its factory in Slovakia grew 67% in the first half of the year, compared with the same period in 2009, driven by rising demand for small SUVs.

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The plant, at Zilina, makes the new Kia Sportage and Hyundai ix35 for its sister brand, as well the cee’d hatchback and wagon.

Kia produced 107,000 vehicles at Zilina in the January to June period compared with 63,902 in the first six months of last year. The company expects the full-year output to rise above 200,000 vehicles from 150,000 last year.

SUVs represented almost half of output in the first six months, compared with 18% in the same period last year, the company said.

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