- Kia celebrates the completion of Hyundai Motor Group’s first devoted EV manufacturing facility
- Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, situated at Kia Autoland Gwangmyeong, to mass-produce Kia EV3 and EV4 fashions
- The brand new facility to have manufacturing capability of 150,000 models per yr
- Earlier inner combustion engine (ICE) automobile plant remodeled to facilitate EV manufacturing and speed up supply of Kia’s strategic sustainable manufacturing and mobility objectives
- Reducing-edge manufacturing initiatives embrace water-based portray in addition to automated processes
- The EVO Plant to set a brand new period for Kia’s transfer in direction of electrification, via manufacturing of the model’s prime quality EV lineup
Kia Company has at the moment celebrated the opening of Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, Hyundai Motor Group’s (the Group) first devoted EV manufacturing facility.
Situated at Kia Autoland Gwangmyeong, the brand new South Korean facility has an annual manufacturing capability of 150,000 models and began manufacturing of the Kia EV3 within the first half of this yr, to be adopted by the EV4 within the first half of 2025. Derived from the time period ‘Evolution’, the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant demonstrates how Kia will proceed to alter and transfer ahead because it goals to change into a frontrunner in the way forward for mobility.
To have fun the completion of the venture, Kia hosted round 150 company throughout a ceremony on the new Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, together with Jun Younger Choi, Govt Vice President and Head of Home Manufacturing Division at Kia; Seung Gained Park, Mayor of Gwangmyeong Metropolis; and O Kyeong Lim and Nam Hee Kim, Members of the twenty second Nationwide Meeting of the Republic of Korea.
“The completion of the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant solidifies Kia’s first step as an EV chief following the corporate’s model relaunch in 2021. With the aim of offering sustainable mobility options, we’ll lead innovation within the EV market and fulfil our tasks in serving to to ship a sustainable future”, stated Jun Younger Choi, Govt Vice President and Head of Home Manufacturing Division at Kia, throughout a welcoming speech on the occasion.
Seung Gained Park, Mayor of Gwangmyeong Metropolis additionally added, “The completion of the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant will assist Gwangmyeong Metropolis to ascertain itself on the middle of the EV trade in Korea. Via this we’ll try to advertise sustainable growth of the native financial system and create extra jobs.”
So as to flexibly reply to adjustments in world demand for EVs, Kia has been steadily getting ready for EV manufacturing at its world amenities. The Gwangmyeong EVO Plant is a devoted EV facility, with an funding whole of KRW 401.6 billion over roughly 60,000 sq. meters and can function an outpost for manufacturing of Kia’s well-liked EV fashions.
Kia has spent roughly one yr reworking Gwangmyeong Plant 2, which was accomplished in 1987 to provide small inner combustion engine autos such because the Kia Pleasure, Avella and Stonic. The Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant can be significant in that it’s the Group’s first devoted EV plant and a facility that has been fully rebuilt on an present plant website to change into a hub for next-generation automobile manufacturing.
Opening a brand new period for of EVs with full-fledged electrification
Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant is characterised underneath the theme of ‘pursuing most change via minimal growth’ in consideration of its metropolis middle location and different environmental elements, akin to safety of inexperienced areas.
As well as, the plant has been constructed with a full-scale conversion to electrification in thoughts, specializing in ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘worker-friendly’ processes.
The physique store is now a high-tech logistics manufacturing unit due to the introduction of automated guided (AGV) forklifts, and the inexperienced credentials of the paint store have been elevated by making use of the water-based 3C1B methodology as a substitute of the earlier oil-based 3C2B methodology. New gear has additionally been launched to enhance wellbeing and scale back the workload of plant staff, together with equipment which may mechanically set up high-voltage batteries, wheels and tires on the autos.
Following the completion ceremony of the Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, Kia will ramp up EV manufacturing. Mass manufacturing of the EV3, the model’s compact all-electric SUV, started within the first half of this yr. The EV3 is Kia’s third devoted EV mannequin after the Kia EV6, the model’s all-electric crossover SUV launched in 2021, and the Kia EV9 all-electric flagship SUV launched in 2023.
Within the first half of 2025, Kia plans to introduce the EV4, the model’s mid-sized electrical sedan. Kia plans to make the most of the Gwangmyeong EVO Plant as a key manufacturing base for the corporate’s EV fashions, together with the EV3 and EV4, with an annual manufacturing capability of 150,000 models.
Via the manufacturing of the model’s high-quality EV fashions, the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant will start a brand new period for Kia’s transfer in direction of electrification. A video of the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant can be out there right here.